Best Florida Visit Selection Award.    The Nest on Lake Weir   Viva La Florida Friendly

Florida Department Of Agriculture holds Water Policy Council report meeting. 

Breaking story: Times are changing for the better, in the world of Water Conservation.

Old line permitting that caused springs pollution is coming under fire.  Conservation Leader, Jeff Littlejohn of DEP is bringing common sense solutions to water conservation in Florida.

Wetlands employee Connie Bersok famous for her Dr. Seuss readings, is called on the carpet for old practices that have become harmful to the environment in the long run.  Over the years individual permit processors made interpretations that then would become law.  Controlling even senior management permit processors became "little gods".  DEP management is now taking control of the Agency and setting one universal policy.  Citizens no longer need fear the "dreaded permit processor" at FDEP or the state water districts.

 Apparently unable to keep up with improvements in permitting that could possibly save Silver Springs, the head of Springs Protection's failed permitting systems has been suspended according to reports in Tampa Bay Times.  Gainesville Utility discharge of Processed Sewer Effluent and Storm Water discharge into the Alachua Sink have long received protection under the old DEP permitting system.

Under Sec. Mike Sole, Ms. Bersok was the champion of the Kanapaha Discharge program that Springs Protection. com has fought for years.  Now that Governor Scott has reversed the systemic pollution problems of the past, old line employees are finding it difficult to keep the hundreds of discharge permits in force.   

A battle is developing for the use of water for Adena Springs Cattle program.  Permits will allow Sewer Effluent currently going into the aquifer.  Other options is the drawing of Ocklawaha river water for the same purpose.  Wells near the discharge points cited by the US Geologic Survey may be used as well.  We ask for a combination of water sources with a priority given to processed sewer effluent following the Perry Spray Field example in Marion County. 

Silver Springs and Rainbow Springs flow into rivers leading to salt water.  Together they send 1 Billion Gallons of fresh, clean, sparkling mineral water into the ocean and gulf each day.  For years this was allowed because no one actually thought about about the value of the water until it was gone.  Sometimes a single benefit such as the historical source of fresh water flowing into the ocean is considered the only valid use of the water, however as time passes and the environment changes wells, people, cities, and population concentrations bring new requirements for an infinite amount of water.  Valuing water by the gallon is a good way to decide how each gallon should be used.  Looking at water flow to the ocean is gradually becoming a lower use value because the water is used only once and not for human consumption.  Human use of a given volume of water can be varied and multiple.  Clean aquifer water is best used for human consumption, clean spring water on its way to the ocean is also best used to replenish the aquifer and human consumption.  Viewing clean water from the inside of a glass bottom boat is a low use of flowing water because the view and experience can be duplicated with a weir holding a volume back for this purpose but flowing at a much lower rate.  Spring flow is water that has departed the aquifer under pressure, that is pushed out as compared to "sucked out" as when a pump pulls out water for a utility and human consumption.  Sucked out water leaves a cone of depletion according to scientist.  Dr Tom Kwader is a leading geologist who has lead the effort to reduce the cone of depletion that then drains our lakes, streams, rivers, springs, and wetlands down into the aquifer to fill the void left by sucking pumps.

While the water is great to look at clear and transparent, Silver Springs is now being looked at from lots of interesting angles, and several plans to use some of the water are gaining traction.  A billion is such a large number that any recovery would be extrodanary in dollars.  For example if just 10% of the water was in bottled water terms, the water would bring 100,000,000 gallons of bottled water.  At 4 bottles per gallon, the math is easy, = 400,000,000 bottles of water to sell.  At 10¢ per bottle it would bring $40,000,000 daily in Bottled Water Value.  At 1¢ per bottle it would bring $4,000,000 daily.  That is $800,000,000 per year if bottling took place 200 days per year.  EDC Director

Now Don Browning continues his years long effort to value and improve the stewardship of the fresh water.  Billion Gallon . Com is the central web site of the effort to value the fresh water and allow the entire State of Florida to benefit.  More

 Municipal Utilities may be videoed as they discharge sewer effluent into the Aquifer.  ProGuard Video has proposed a state wide video network of Gainesville Utilities dump points into the

Alachua Sink and the Kanapaha Sewer discharge Point.

Ocala Utilities direct discharge drainage pipes to the Aquifer may be videoed.  New Solar Powered Video links are being developed. 

SB 550 was passed and Government owned sewer plants were slated to receive over 90% of the new Trucked Sewer business from homes across the state of Florida.  Senator Evelyn Lynn is spearheading the effort to trash the legislation.  Thankfully, the bill was overturned for the time being and will be brought up during the current legislative session. Septic tanks are now seen as more efficient than the Public Utilities.   Senator Charlie Dean has indicated he is hoping to require funding before new regulation is sent, unfunded, to the citizens.  Properly installed, Septic Systems are considerably more efficient than a large urban sewer plant. It is about the closeness to the surface soil and biologic agents that transform the nitrogen back into nitrogen atmosphere. 

Are government regulations closing in on you?  Get involved now, before it is too late.  While the politicians on both sides of the isile talk about spending cuts, we are asking what are you going to cut?  If you don't have funds, shouldn't you be talking about where and how you can borrow some more money?  Who are you going to go see to borrow?  Banks don't have the kind of money needed for even a single year of borrowing.

There is no discussion about how to borrow the money.  Spending is dependent on first having the money.  Borrowing is a necessary step before spending.  Who are the politicians going to borrow from?  Is it the Communist nations?  Who much will they lend.  What are the terms?  When do we have to pay the principal back?  How are we going to pay the interest?  The cap to borrowing is not important unless someone will lend us Trillions.

Interesting!!!!! 

If you haven't read Alexander Solzhenitzyn's Prize winning novel about Arrest and the Systematic discrediting of citizens by the Russian Political Police, It may be time to understand how bad systems discredit individuals. 

Nationally, we have constitutional guarantees, however on a personal level, fear of getting involved and somehow charged, keeps the general population out of the process.   

A few important things must take place for dysfunctional police tactics to be effective.

1. The person in the police cross-hairs, must feel that it is all a mistake because they know they have done nothing wrong.

2. The public assumes that the person being arrested or searched has done something wrong hence a presumption of guilt.

3. The individuals in the public must pull back and allow police abuse for fear that they will be pulled into the investigation.

4. The press must be controlled externally, or internally, external control is usually from the right and internal control is usually from the left, either way the police get away with the abuse, and can finally create political charges.

5. Political charges usually are directed to the extremely rich or poor.  Both have a difficult time defending themselves against charges.  Statistically as the abused group grows, the middle income citizens grow in number developing an inverse bell curve. 

We Need Oil Drilling, even at the risk of a spill occasionally, like we need coal even at the risk of cave in disasters, or underground fires that burn for decades.

We also need Utilities to processes Sewer Effluent as inexpensively as possible,

however we have to learn to live with algae in our springs if we dump sewer effluent into the Aquifer.

What we need most is an end to economy killing, jobs killing environmental regulation and DEP spokesmen groups, funded by taxpayer dollars blaming ordinary citizens so more control and regulation can be brought on citizens. 

It may take a State of Emergency Request to stop Sewer Effluent Spill by Kanapaha Sewer Utility.  It is not know at this point if the Contaminating Spill can be stopped after 17 years of discharge into the Floridan Aquifer.  Utilities are pocketing millions but it will take billions to clean up the Floridan Aquifer.

Bad Management Practices (BMP)  help cause the problems facing Floridians. State Government is working to reign in the Utilities and the EPA feels that they have the right to control Florida like the 10th Amendment didn't exist.

The more aggressive the EPA becomes, the more Floridians want them out of Florida.   Senators who detest the abuses and bad management practices of past years, suddenly find themselves teamed up and finding hope with Governor Scott's new DEP. New DEP appointments may solve the issues of the past 10 years.

Senator Alan Hays' recent hearings in Tallahassee started the process of getting to the bottom of Florida's nutrient problems, and the growth of DEP and EPA.  DEP's Jerry Brooks presented background and answered questions for the Budget Commission Senators interested in dealing with the up coming nutrient standards that may be coming.  The old DEP under Mike Sole, has for years operated a double standard out of necessity.  Utilities get one standard and the single citizens receive another.  

Legislators are beginning to ask dep officials, "if DEP is doing such a good job, why would it cost Billions to set even modest standards of nitrate pollution"?  It may take kicking EPA out of Florida in order to bring a focus on FDEP.  With EPA breathing down our necks, and a new DEP Secretary, it appears that we have a chance to correct old Bad Management Practices that this editor feels are actually drawing the EPA into Florida. 

 Activist Don Browning shows how Utility Discharges can be used to reduce utility bills for customers.  Algae growth often used to slow growth is now becoming a key to potential economic growth in Florida.  Growing Algae in Fuel to Energy processes is beneficial states political activist Don Browning.  Underspending the economic power of nitrates and CO2 can help a region grow.  In addition to using sewer waste to grow Algae Bio Energy, the Springs will become clear again.  Don Estimates that over $500,000,000 has been lost over the past 20 years because of the decline of tourism.  Jobs, Jobs, and more Jobs is going to be the result of new energy systems such as Algae to Energy and small Pocket Nuclear Power Stations.  Central Florida can be at the forefront of positive economic change.

Visit the wonderful analysis of the evils of Sustainable Development that is taking over the United States of America.

What sounds like simple orderly growth, is really, Special Code for a form of socialism, and a reordering of our nation's fundamentals.  The roots are in the a special report from the United Nations commission on Environment and Development, authored by Gro Harlem Brundt.and Vice President of the World Socialist Party in 1987, Our Common Future.

More in a report by Tom DeWeese March 1 2010 

Marion County Chamber of Commerce launched to represent the interest of Marion County Citizens out side Ocala City Limits. The Ocala Chamber of Commerce, ( OcalaCC.com ) and the Ocala EDC, (OcalaEDC.org) to receive boost from new branding of Marion County Opportunity.   See Marion County Best. Com, Discover Marion County . Com and Marion County Chamber of Commerce .

 Just in: Florida Legislative and Executive Government Leaders are briefed on Algae to Energy Opportunities.  Florida Department of Environmental Protection battle with Utility Discharge of nitrates into Florida's Drinking Water may now be off the hook.( See sewer to drinking water link.)  Storm Water Utilities are searching for ways to use storm sewer runoff and end the practice of draining the pollution to the aquifer.

Bringing high technology jobs and environmental solutions to Florida is job one.  Senator Charles Dean Moves Grant funds,  Lt Governor Kottcamp and Chief of Staff Alex Ferro join an elite group of governmental officials addressing the leading edge of technology.

Representatives Ralph Poppell and Alan Hays lead the house effort to solve Utility Discharge of Nitrates, by introducing CO2 injection study into the equation.

Representative Alan Hays Examines the Utility Discharge problem in Springs Protection Field Exam.  FDEP using Cesspool Tests to evaluate septic systems.  Very misleading.  Three test sites were used in the wekiva area to represent a state wide effort to blame septic systems for high nitrates from utilities.  Wekiva is an area with a water table very near the surface.  Not a place for a normal septic system.

Looking at the Drains makes pollution sourcing much less complicated.  It doesn't take a Scientist to see the harm to the Aquifer and Springs.

Rep Hays opens the debate.  The public isn't the problem, its the Utilities discharging waste that is the problem.  The Public is actually the solution

Hays can move quickly in the Legislature.  New Technology promises to use waste to make Energy says Hays.

On Site Sewer Treatment Systems have been evaluated state wide on 3 (three) systems in a shallow surface to preatic level condition.  In the Wekiva Springs area like the Florida Keys, the water table us just below the surface.

The study was based on Cesspool type evaluation estimates and just below the drain field.  Suggested test sites in more normal terrain would be helpful.  The state wide program from this limited evaluation is considered misleading my many readers of the report.

Aero Stream System saves citizens major dollars and improves operation of Septic Systems.  Anaerobic systems become Aerobic and more functional. 

Our motto:  Advice is cheap, supply always exceeds demand.

Additionally, Utility Sewer Effluent and Storm Water Runoff is cheap, Supply Always Exceeds Demand. (especially up stream from a Treasured Spring, or a Drinking Water Well.

Welcome to Springs Protection . Com      Our Mission is to bring to the people of Florida and the Legislature, the other side of the Environmental Story about daily Utility Discharge of Waste Products.  Somehow, the Environmental Protection Agency has become trapped in a story line, blaming "population" or the "public", for environmental problems. Economic Action member Don Browning helps Urban Leaders see the value in economic development of waste products to energy.  Promoting growth is job one states Don.

In a search for funds from the Legislature, to kick start economic growth.     This plan would work if it was you and I that discharge waste into the aquifer.  Septic Systems, if properly installed are a miracle of mother nature.  In order for the Nitrogen Cycle to work, nitrates must be discharged in the dry zone, well above the water table.  Utilities on the other hand sometimes pipe their waste directly into the aquifer, bypassing mother nature and the nitrogen cycle.  The Nitrogen Cycle turns bio-waste into nitrogen gas and the atmosphere.  74% of our atmosphere is nitrogen and harmless to our springs and water supply.

Actually, it is the Regulated Utilities that send most of the nitrogen waste to our springs.  Don Browning, the Water Czar, estimates over 90% of the nutrients come from regulated utilities.  If we can just filter out the nitrates before discharging into the aquifer, we can solve our springs algae growth problems with very little cost.  When nutrients can't be removed, the discharge should be sent to a surface crop irrigation situations.  The Water Czar is promoting agricultural solutions that can use the high volume of waste water generated each day by urban areas.

Every day, DEP authorities must get rid of newly generated sewer waste water.  In Orlando alone, 203 million gallons of sewer effluent is generated daily.  50 million is injected into the aquifer and called, "Beneficial" recharge.  Critics wonder if the public will stand for increased utility rates caused by the pollution plumb below the Wekiva Springs Area in Orlando.  We are close to turing this entire situation around.  Instead of added regulation, we need to harvest the energy in Sewer Waste.  We are very close to a breakthrough.

FDEP is becoming interested in turning a problem into an economic solution.  Join us as we tell the Rest of the Story, as Paul Harvey used to say....

 Just in from Editor: Springs Protection . Com Executive Director Don Browning

 No need seen for St Johns and FDEP to spend $500,000 on another study to determine where nitrates are coming from to pollute our springs.  Just check the FDEP effluent dumping registration logs listing authroized dump sites.  FDEP/St Johns Water District records show hundreds of hot spots where FDEP has authroized utilities to discharge high gross loading of contaminates into the ground water.

Understanding Clean Water Act (CWA) – the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System (NPDES) stormwater permitting program and the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)
program as it applies to Florida Sewer discharge permits by FDEP is critical to understanding Florida's double standard for nitrates.  Continus studies fail to identify the role in sink holes, drainage wells, and discharge pipes FDEP has authorizes to discharge waste water into the aquifer at all depths.

Officials from Springs Protection.Com declared, it is a wonder we have any clear water at all in our springs or funds left in our state budget.  Springs have a difficult time with algae at 1.0 mg/L, Utilities are dumping 10.0 mg/L.  That is ten times the current problematic load level.  According to legislative sources, FDEP is conducting yet another study to determine the source of nitrates.  Tax Watch of Florida. Com considers yet another half million dollar test study a joke on the tax payers of Florida.  Simply reading FDEP and St. Johns Water District reports on licenced discharge points would answer the $500,000 question.

  In the Wekiva area there are hundreds of dump sites.  In the Silver Springs area there are too many sources to count that FDEP has authorized to dump.  Who is kidding whom?  How can FDEP and DCA officials pretend they don't know about all the drainage points that they have authorized to discharge high nutrient effluent into the ground water? 

It appears that a great deal of FDEP budget is used to cover-up the hundreds of effluent dump sites.  Many who have studied FDEP's apparent state of denial wonder if the average citizen cares about the misleading nature of the Springs Protection effort by FDEP.  Is distrust of government so great that the state agency who is charged with figuring out how pollution is getting to our springs, is the same agency authorizing hundreds of dump points dumping millions of gallons of pollution directly up stream our springs?

How bad do you, or any other utility customer - tax payer, want to clean up nitrates in our springs?

Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Bronson recently declared, that it will cost Billions, just to set nitrate standards as EPA request.  Billions of gallons of sewer and storm water waste is sent into sink holes and drainage wells every month in Florida.  

Billions of gallons daily flushes out nitrates at over 700 springs locations state wide.  Without the flushing of the system, the nitrates and other contaminates would build up in even greater concentrations in our drinking water aquifer, the Floridan, according to environmentalist Don Browning. 

Can we afford not to set standards for nitrates coming out of our sewer plants directly into our drinking water aquifer.  We can save billions of tax payer dollars if we set standards and refrain from allowing utility discharge into our springs.  Utility discharge contains 10 times the nitrate level currently in our springs.  

Over 90% of our recent Springs Protection.Com focus group stated they would be somewhat afraid to challenge FDEP or Utility operators about official Bad Management Practices because of the potential cost of higher utility bills, taxes, or both if cities and counties have to deal properly with waste disposal.

Agricultural Commission Charles Brunson estimated the cost to even set standards for nitrates for utilities would be over 2 billion dollars.

  Citizens are concerned that if we ask utilities to stop discharging Processed Sewer Waste into our drinking water aquifer, the Utilities will pass very large charges on to the taxpayers.

For Example:  Gainesville and University of Florida discharge processed sewer waste into the aquifer in large volumes, Kanapaha Sewer Plant Discharges nearly 6,800,000 gallons every day.  Orlando discharges over 200,000,000 gallons daily near the Wekiva Springs.  50 Million Gallons goes into discharge pipes that can reach Wekiva Springs rather quickly.  That Level of Contamination is every day.  365 days per year.

Storm Water Discharge is just as bad or worse.  Ocala Utility discharges into sink holes, drainage wells and over land pipes.  Ocala residents are voicing concern about the cost of cleaning up the springs.  How big will the tax increase be, and how big will the utility increase be to make the springs clear up?

For many years FDEP has spent millions annually asking citizens to get involved cleaning up the springs pollution.  Mike Sole may now not be happy he asked us to get involved,  study pollution sources and help clean up the springs.

Millions of gallons of high nutrient storm sewer and sewer effluent are legally being discharged into the ground water.   We know who is dumping and where.  This isn't a debate.  We are going to get to the bottom of the gross dumping by people who should know better.  If you are using a sink hole to discharge pollutants into the ground water you should be concerned.  If you pipe sewer effluent into the drinking water aquifer, you should be concerned.

New terms that everyone will under stand are being used to describe utility pipes discharging million of gallons of processed sewer waste into the ground water.  For example, in the Wekiva area 203 million gallons of high nitrate processed sewer effluent is discharged daily.  Some of that is used to fertilize yards and landscaping, yet some is sent directly to the ground water feeding our springs.

50 million gallons of processed sewer waste with as high as 10 times the nutrients we now have in the springs, is discharged directly into the ground water feeding our springs. 

Drainage wells are used to pipe Storm Sewer Waste to the shallow ground water connected to the springs.  Change is coming.  The Florida Legislature is taking a close look at the public relations campaign that has kept us from realizing what happens to processed sewer waste.  Who knew such a large volume was sent to the ground water? 

 Wake Up Call for everyone!

Extremely high nutrient in sewer effluent and storm water is being drained into your drinking water unnecessarily. The catch is that the water meets drinking water standards and is 1000% higher in Nitrates than DEP allows in our springs.

Utilities may elect to use Harvest techniques to protect water resources, both quantity and quality.

Desperate State Officials use drinking water quality sewer effluent to gain millions in state funding, literally turning algae into gold.  New Alchemy is discovered.  A core group of sewer officials in DEP have learned to turn poop into gold! 

It is not a joke.  Strapped for funding, officials at the environmental Protection Agency have developed a plan to lobby the legislature for funds to figure out where high nitrate levels were finding their way into Silver, Rainbow and surrounding springs.

Each year, after collecting millions in taxpayer funds, FDEP studies, and otherwise involves themselves in a search for the source of 1 part per million nitrate in our springs.  Sometimes the nitrate level even spikes to 1.5 mg/L.  Among themselves they have had a secrete that now is coming out.  

Drinking water effluent has up to 10 mg/l of nitrate.  More than 10 times as much as what is needed to create an algae nightmare in the springs.  Yes, it only takes 1 mg/L to ruin the springs with a blanket of unwanted algae, and  FDEP authorizes enough sewer effluent to ensure full funding year after year.

Kanapaha, the Gainesville sewer plant and the University sewer plant dump millions of gallons into the aquifer daily.  Mounding is the result described as a bulge of sewer effluent from 1000 feet to the surface caused by decades of pumping in the heavy nitrite laden sewer effluent.   It is called a scam by some citizens concerned that our springs will never recover if drinking water has 10 times the amount of nitrate needed to cause our current problem.  Legislators are beginning to wonder why we spend millions annually to find out something we already know.

School children were asked what would happen if a spring with water containing 1 part per million of nitrate was mixed with a close by source of millions of gallons of water containing 10 parts per million nitrate what would happen.

A.  The springs would gain nitrate to perhaps 2.0 or more parts per million.

B.  The  spring would grow more algae as sunlight acted on the increased nitrates.

C.  The Legislature would fund even more money to help FDEP discover why the nitrates have increased.

D. All of the above. 

 Which did you choose?  We have yet to find a child or adult that did not choose All of the above, except for legislators who for 10 years have continued to fund request by FDEP to try to figure out why nitrates were increasing in our springs.  Some legislators actually chose to ignore the billions of gallons daily sent into the aquifer as Outfall Aquifer Enhancement Replenishment Water Management Recharging.

I wonder where we could find wasted funding during these difficult budget times.  Perhaps if it is discovered that Drainage Wells also dump nitrates into the drinking water.  Often the drainage wells were dug because sink holes used as drains for storm sewer runoff were clogged with debris. 

Below is an example of a sink hole that is used to send storm sewer runoff laden with nutrients that grow Algae in Silver Springs.  This is just one of many.

Somehow we need the utilities to measure how much cruddy stuff they are sending to the Springs.  They tend to minimize their dumping impact and then believe their Spin.

It will cost less than the studies like the WRAMS Report, or the 50 year Retro Study of the Silver River and Springs, to end these BMP's.  (Bad Management Practices)

If you get your water from a Marion County well or a utility in Marion County you should be worried.  Rates could triple in order to clean up the mess if we don't get a handle on the utility dumping soon.

If you don't know about the dumping into the aquifer of tons of nitrates don't feel bad.  You have probably been reading the Ocala Star Banner or Gainesville Sun. 

Springs Fact:  UF Environmental Professors are being scamed.  Most don't know that every time they flush, they are sending nitrates to nearby Silver Springs at about 10 Parts per Million.  About 1000% the level that is currently causing major Algae problems at 1 part per million in Marion County Water at Silver and Rainbow Springs.   DEP Sec. Mike Sole is not to blame. This has been going on for decades.  Even the City of Gainesville dumps their storm water into Sweetwater creek and into a sink hole.  Yes, a Sink Hole!  The Sink Hole is a lot like the Sink Holes the City of Ocala is dumping into because their 28 big drainage pipes called Drain Wells don't drain enough Storm Sewer Runoff into the Aquifer.   Read on to see how all this sink hole dumping of acid Storm Water is " Fizzing the City" away causing sink holes.  The really sad part is that this is high nutrient water that could be used for irrigation, thereby reducing the need for pumping potable water from the Aquifer.

In order to avoid paying Billions to clean up Drainage Wells and Sink Hole use by Utilities across the State of Florida, Millions of Taxpayers dollars have been spent in an elaborate strategy to distract the public into thinking they were the problem and that each of the public needed to be educated.  In reality, it will only take a few dollars less than it takes to keep the DCA and DEP folks employed to direct blame on to Farmers and the General Public. When was the last time you dumped your stuff into a sink hole, or dug a drainage well into the aquifer to dump Storm Sewer Runoff?  We may have to tell a little fib and tell DEP we will keep them funded even after we clean up the Dumping into the Aquifer.  Many companies who speak for and coordinate for DEP are concerned we might actually clean up the dumping and therefore the algae in the springs.  If we clean up the springs many receiving grants and employment from DEP think they will lose their jobs.  They just may be right.

Problem is the plan to Educate the Public, worked too well.  We got educated and interested in pollutionand now know where the Nitrates are coming from and it isn't your home or your Farm, or even your yard.  It is the big Dump Wells and Sink holes used by utilities.  Example, Ocala Utilities.

What a mess.  Now we can clean up the problem pretty easily, however DEP is going to have to be convinced to go along with the plan.  We have to stop thinking environmental action is a chance to unleash Acorn Style Political Community Organizers called DEP Coordinators.  We will save millions and clear away a giant scam, Smoke Screen.

Go to Marion Sun times to get the scoop.

Or better yet, keep going with Springs Protection. Com

Your Editor

Don Browning

Dumping nitrates leads to millions in taxpayer funding of state agencies for over 10 years. Is Springs Protection just a massive funding scam?

Environmental Analysis by Don Browning on the the new Alchemy, turning Nitrogen into Gold.

Earth Science ranks nitrates very high on Mother Nature's greatest assets.

Only in Special situations is it  considered as negative and polluting.  FDEP allows nitrates to pollute springs in order to build funding.  Nitrogen to Algae, Algae to Green.  Nitrogen is very profitable to Florida Department of Environmental Protection.  DEP could easily stop the algae in Silver Springs, but of course if the algae went away so would millions of Tax Payer Funding for Springs Protection.  Some critics feel Springs Protection is just a scam to draw springs protection funds from the Florida Legislature.

Yes, the more nitrates FDEP can approve to enter the ground water near major springs, the more funding FDEP will receive.  

Dumping drinking water standard water is considered allowable in some circles.  After all, the nitrate levels in the sewer effluent is very likely not above drinking water standards of 10 parts per million.

But wait, isn't the problem level of 1 part per million causing all the up roar at Silver Springs and others?  Yes, it is difficult to keep the springs from blooming if the nitrogen level gets above 1 part per million.

So Funding is the reason FDEP allows Gainesville to inject 10 parts per million nitrogen into the water feeding Silver and Rainbow Springs.

It appears to be very profitable to dump nitrates into ground water near springs.  The Legislature is unable to withhold funding algae blooms if caused by 10 times the amount of nitrogen needed to bloom algae in clear water.

View the Clean Water Network to learn more.

Mother Earth's Great Combination for sustainable living.

Art, Education, Science, and the Golden Rule. Pass it on, help a child find opportunity!

God's Eye View of Earth Sustainability is now a reality.  Recent NASA accomplishments are helping us understand Mother Nature in a more Sustainable Way. 

Science developed in space is helping the world "Go Green".  Space Florida and NASA are leading the way to sustainability.

Education as the key is becoming much more popular when searching for Environmental Solutions to Sustainability. 

Space Florida Officials work to promote a better world.  Lt Governor Kottkamp's recent dedication of the Sheriff's Youth Ranches Program is an example.  Public Service Chairman Matt Carter and the new Green Science Center at Gretna Elementary School is another example.

Recent Solar Voltaic uses in space help the ordinary citizen understand small power generation and use.  Contribution to the Grid, will be more important to future generations.

Use what power you need, return power to the grid when you are  able.  Save household money, and help the environment.

Green Living starts with Education.  Children become interested in the fun of science as they learn.

 Become familiar in your county, with how Sewer Waste Effluent and Storm Water Runoff is delivered to Mother Nature for processing.  Sewer Plant Processing is only half of the job.  "Utility use of Sink hole drainage and Drainage Well use are a terrible short cut of Mother Nature's Magic".  Dr. Thomas Kwader.

Here is a look at Marion County Florida an how they are changing long held bad management practices by utility authorities.  Sometimes bad manage practices reach well back into the last century.  Some Storm Sewer Systems are pre WW I vintage.

Marion County is edging closer to sanity on Water Issues.  Marion County Commissioner Stan McClain, is leading the charge to force Alternative Water use.  Recently, Commissioner commented about the Nutrient Rich water that is currently a liability for Marion County, The City of Ocala, Alachua County, Gainesville and other cities.  Even St Johns Water Management District executive director Kirby Green entered the fray with public comments  about the need for alternative water sources.  Environmentalist E-Publication The Marion Sun Times, has been the leader in Alternative Water Use Conservation.

Under the Direction of our Legislative Delegation St Johns Director Kirby Green will be able to stop the insanity of one city injecting into the Aquifer perfectly good high nutrient water, while a neighboring city is asking for a well permit to draw out a like amount of similar water from the Lower Floridan Aquifer.  All this sucking and blowing into the aquifer can be avoided according to scientist at St Johns.  At a recent permit hearing for Seminole County, St Johns Staff explained that with the supplement of a little bit of Surface Water, Rain Water Harvesting and Sewer Effluent Harvesting could become a reality.

Double Benefits for Utility Customers in Ocala, Marion County, Alachua County and Gainesville.

Currently, Storm and Sanitary Sewer Water is drained and pumped into the Aquifer, both upper and lower, causing contamination of drinking water.  What a Waste!  Why arn't we using this Conservation Water? Usually seen in Silver and Rainbow Springs first, high nutrient contamination by sewer effluent at 10 parts per million nitrogen, is causing run away Algae Growth at 1 part per million nitrogen.  Most of the $16 million tax dollars spent to study Springs Protection can be saved if Cities and Counties will stop dumping and injecting high nutrient water into Springs Feeders under ground.

Springs Protection investigations brought to light current waste dumping of Storm Water and Sewer Water that is needed by Citys like Ocala.  Harvesting Storm Water is a gold mine for city utility customers.  

Every day Ocala gives away for FREE, a Million Gallons of valuable Irrigation Water, then  Pays $1.50 per gallon to pump clean aquifer water to replace what they gave away to TJ Turf Company according to Susan Latham Carr of the Ocala Star Banner.  

The City of Gainesville injecting of 6 million gallons of sewer effluent causes MOUNDING in the Floridan Aquifer just a few miles from Marion County private and public water drinking wells.   When too much sewer effluent is injected into the Aquifer, the opposite of Draw Down occurs.  Mounding is the Up Push of the Sewer Effluent because it has no where to go.  6 million gallons is a lot of water for mother nature to take on in the limestone karst rock formations that hold our drinking water.

 It will take a district approach to end the BAD Management Practices that have developed over the years.  The benefit to citizens is huge!  What is currently injected and drained as unwanted high nutrient water can be used, even sold above the clean water rate because the natural nutrients replace commercial fertilizer needs.

  Conservation is the agreed answer to the need for growth and the relief of pressure on our Aquifer.

It is appropriate for the City of Ocala to be at the center of the Water Conservation Controversy.  For years the Ocala City Fathers have defended the dumping of Storm Sewer Water into the Floridan Aquifer.  The 

Floridan Aquifer is where we get our drinking water.  Utility Costomers lose both ways, first when the valuable water is given or thrown away, and later when contamination occurs in the Drinking Water Aquifer. Unlike Alachua's Gainesville Sewer Plant that continues to dump 6 million gallons of Sewer Effluent into our drinking water daily, Ocala Sewer Officials give the water away, over 1 million gallons per day.  

Recent DEP action brought the dumping of Sewer Effluent onto local Spray Fields.  Two Workers of American Sanitation, hired as drivers and spray truck operators for the Sewer Treatment facility were arrested for spraying Sewer Effluent onto grass.   Apparently the Spray Field was previously, or about to be leased by the City of Ocala for a Sewer Spray Operation.  (See Drinkig Water Utility . Com for Details)

By Donald Browning

Executive Director, Marion Springs Protection . Com

Water Quality and Water Quantity

Political, Economic, and Environmental forces jockey for control of the subject.  Much of our water is wasted, much is fouled by Old Bad Management Practices, such as dumping unwanted waste water into the aquifer just to get rid of waste cheaply.  Many myths have grown up over the years about water.  Let's go on a journey together and see where our water comes from, where it goes, how it gets fouled, and how much it costs to clean dirty water.  We will look at high nutrient water that is wasted, we will look at clean water that is wasted.  We will explore some ideas about using water we have, especially for irrigation before we suck more clean water out of the seemingly unlimited supply in the Aquifer.

  How to achieve balance in our stewardship of our water resource.  Between the Silver and Rainbow Springs and Human use from wells, about 1.1 Billion Gallons overflows the Floridan Aquifer Daily in Marion County.  Only 1/10th of that amount of water is used by humans for irrigation and other water uses.  A little over 1 Billion Gallons overflows onto the ground and become Silver and Rainbow Rivers.  The Rivers are treasures, however the water must be counted in the inventory of all water available.  As a society we must use the water around us.  Each gallon is considered for use.  Each gallon of Aquifer Water, River Water, Runoff Water, Sewer Effluent Water must be evaluated and understood if we are to be proper stewards.  Gray water, already contaminated beyond immediate potable use is the key to conservation.  Every gallon of water that is reused is a gallon that does not have to be withdrawn from the Aquifer.  Citizens are now considering the draw down affects of high powered turbine wells.  Geologist tell us that it is best take water that has spilled out of the aquifer because by definition there is water behind pushing it out.

All of the Human Consumption water taken from the Aquifer, in Marion County Florida, is 88,000,000 gallons per day as of 2009.  That is all wells and withdrawals in the entire county.  All private use and public utility use.

Each 1000 gallons costs about $1.50 to withdrawal from a clean source like the Aquifer.  The 88,000,000 gallons are worth about $132,000 daily.

The two major springs in Marion County, Silver Springs and Rainbow Springs each discharge about 1/2 a Billion Gallons daily.  That is a Billion Gallons bubbling out onto the ground daily.  These springs have discharged that amount daily for thousands of years.  We have so much water in the aquifer that 10 times what we use daily, blows out of the ground and runs down the rivers to the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean.  360 Billion Gallons spill out of the Aquifer.  Keep that in Mind as we study water quantity that is available for our use.

$1,500,000, yes a million five hundred thousand dollars in water goes out on the ground.  To replace that water from a river or the salty ocean, it costs from $3.50 per 1000 gallons to $6.00 per 1000 gallons.

If the Springs Water we lose was from a sea water desalination plant the value would be about $5.00 per 1000 gallons or valued at over $6,000,000 dollars daily.

If you leave anything of value on the ground, spilling out to sea, someone is going to come get it, or at least some of it.

Most of the world, and most of the United States use water from rivers.  In most of Florida, surface water is not used for consumption.  In Marion and Alachua Counties none of the precious water from the Silver and Rainbow Springs is used for human consumption.  Even as the clean water leaves the aquifer, then mixes with the Ocklawaha River, and then the St Johns River and finally the Atlantic Ocean.  We choose to use clean water from the Aquifer even for irrigation rather than use gray water from Storm Sewers, Sanitary Sewers or our Rivers.

We may have to reconsider this wasteful use of aquifer water and begin using less clean already surfaced water at least for conservation purposes such as irrigation.

Environmental Alert: 

 Public Concerns advance the idea to purchase Sewer Discharge from Alachua County in order to stop the dumping of Gainesville Sewer Waste into Marion County Water Supplies.  Gainesville Sewer Plants and other cities in Alachua County are being questioned about discharge of nitrate rich sewer effluent into Sweetwater Creek and the Alachua Sinkhole, as well as the Kanapaha Sewer Plant discharge. 

Legislators may not be getting the results they wanted for millions in Springs Protection Studies. Private citizens are finding several point pollution sources getting a free pass from watch dog agencies.   Even DCA fails to mention the major point sources in their Springs Protection Handbook.  New procedures in the multi million dollar awarding  of Springs Protection studies may be implemented. 

County Commissioner Stan McClain expressed outrage at Alachua County and the City of Gainesville for dumping 10 times the nitrates currently causing a problem for Silver Springs.   Marion County Stormwater officials seemed upset that they would have to continue to send drainage from roads into the aquifer as a cost cutting measure. 

 Marion County Clean Water program has given years of lectures with a model of a sink hole describing the evils of dumping into a sink hole, only to be asked to stop dumping  directly into sink holes and drainage wells from the County and City of Ocala Storm Sewer System.  Cited specifically, was the sink hole on SR 475 that has been used for some time as a direct dump point into the ground water below Ocala.  Acid rain was also mentioned as the very real risk of chemically melting the karst limestone below Ocala causing even more chance of sink hole development. The double standard of Sink hole and Drainage well use by the city and county stormwater departments while asking the commissioners to pass regulations on others to take special steps to keep storm water out of the aquifer seemed to cause discomfort for the Commissioners.

On the bright side, the Commissioners shed a bright light on practices of draining city storm water into the Aquifer.  A great opportunity to address long term point sources of pollution was missed as we instead decided to take a slower long term approach to stooping BMP's Bad Management Practices of dumping into ground water..  It is difficult to go back and undo problematic legislation, but perhaps we have come to the turning point as we now know the pollution is coming from 28 aquifer dump points and several County Dump points.  The Commissioners were all trying to do the right thing.   Many years of searching for the sources of pollution now has brought attention to Storm Sewer System flaws that are overwhelming the springs.  Also, Alachua County was called out for dumping 10 parts per million Sewer Effluent just up stream from Marion County.

Environmental Artist Don Browning has suggested studying the historic problems in Tallahassee, and similar use of isotopes and other chemical indicators to track the impacts on ground water quality from Gainesville City Sewer Treatment pumps into the aquifer.   Marion County Commissioner Stan McClain may yet have the final word as he questioned the cheap approach to dumping sewer waste effluent.  Tallahassee's use of spray fields resulted in pollution to ground water and wells.  Imagine if they had drained the effluent directly into the Aquifer as Kanapaha Sewer Plant is doing.  Stan McClain is well aware of the problems that could befall the citizens of Marion County.  

Marion County Commissioners sat attentively as citizens described the many sink holes, drainage wells and sewer effluent dump pollution points that threaten the ground water of Marion County and feed nutrients to Silver and Rainbow Springs.

Many Storm Con companies stand ready to provide rather inexpensive solutions to decades old problems in Marion County. Citizens at the Springs Protection public hearing cited estimates by Dr. Bob Knight that stormwater is just 5% of the problem while others cite the E P A's estimate that 50% of our nations water problems are caused by stormwater.  Normal routes into the ground water via retention ponds are problematic enough in Karst Geological areas, however injection or draining directly into the aquifer is almost criminal via sink holes and drainage wells.

Silver Springs for example has problems with just 1.4 parts per million of nitrate. Adding billions of gallons of sewer and storm sewer waste is just a really big deal.  It is becoming clear that we must stop county and city dumping of pollution into storm sewer pipes directly to the aquifer.  Feeling have been hurt but citizens were asked to get involved and now we have lots of participants.  At the very least we must filter all Storm And Sewer effluent before sending it directly into the aquifer.  No pollutant can be sent to the springs with a higher nitrate level than 1.4 if we are to clean up the algae in the springs.  Kanapaha is sending us 6 million gallons well above 5 parts per million and as much as 10 parts per million or more.  How can we get ahead, many citizens asked if they dump 10 times more that the problem level of 1.4 parts per million.

A big congratulations to all participants in the process.  Most citizens work without pay and give of their free time to help better the community.  With that said, Many Government Workers will lose their present jobs when the springs are cleaned up.  Hence there is lots of scrambling to slow up the end of Sink Hole use and Drainage Well use.  Sewage Effluent pumping into the Aquifer will likely end soon as publicity grows about the dumping.  Alachua will have to stop sending 10 part per million sewer effluent into the aquifer just above Silver and Rainbow Springs.

Many who have been blaming septic tanks in order to stop growth or promote city cash cow public utilities will now have to prove it or give up the push.

Marion County Health officials reported at the public hearing that Dosing Septic Systems are of no extra value in reducing nitrates.  The extra cost for citizens will have to be justified before the plan to add new electric septic tanks can go forward.

Instead of addressing actual pollution point sources, such as the Sink Holes used to flush Billions of Gallons of Storm Sewer Runoff into the drinking water aquifer under Marion County, the commission  voted to regulate citizens as far out as Weirsdale with a withering hodge podge of new troublesome regulations.  Designed to slow development, but sometimes little more than nonsense, the new ordinances are loaded with problems.  Utilities hook up laws were a big part of the anti development effort by requiring hook ups and expansion when ever possible.  Septic tanks all across most of Marion County must be replaced over time with the new expensive system.

  The County health official offered the commissioners a way out when he testified that the new required Septic "Dosing" Systems did nothing to reduce nitrates, however Chairman Payton, joined with Mike Amsden to recruit Charlie Stone as they followed Barbara Fitos in the vote to approve the new ordinances.  Citizens had asked for many small but important changes before approval, however Commissioners saw it differently.  Big Pollution Points have become a major concern for citizens.  It is not that the Commissioners want a double standard, it is just that for now the dumping will go on.  It has taken years to grow algae in Silver/Rainbow Springs and today we directed a bright spot light on the main causes of pollution in Marion County.  Jaws have been dropping all across Central Florida as word got out that City and County Storm and Sewer officials are disposing of the unfiltered runoff and treated sewer effluent directly into the aquifer because it is the cheapest way to dispose of pollution.

Major Point Source Pollution contributors were listed for the commissioners.  Alachua Gross cost cutting measures resulting in Millions of Gallons of Treated Sewage pumped and drained into the Aquifer just above Marion County was not even acknowledged by the voting majority.  Only Commissioner Stan McClain condemned the grab for profits behind the dumping into the Aquifer by Alachua County and the City of Gainesville.  "Gainesville Authorities have told me they dump into our aquifer because it is the cheapest way to get rid of Sewer Effluent", said  Commissioner Stan McClain.  Marion County Stormwater Engineers were also called on the carpet to answer charges that they have for years dumped known high nitrate pollution into sink holes and drains to the aquifer feeding the Silver and Rainbow Springs.

Why do we need to spend a Million Dollars for a stromwater department?  Commissioner McClain wondered aloud after hearing that Marion County is actually the party dumping directly into the Drinking Water Aquifer at many locations.

After years of hearing how bad storm water is for the Springs, and spending a Million Dollars plus for studies that concluded stormwater was problem number One, many complainers about storm water suddenly were not concerned when they heard it is the County that is dumping into sink holes and drainpipes directly to the underground streams feeding Silver and Rainbow Springs.

After many years of securing many high dollar scientific study contracts paid for by tax payers, Dr. Bob Knight of Wetland Solutions was quoted as having sent word Stormwater is not an important part of the pollution of the ground water.

This will be news to the developers and scientist along with the EPA and DEP who have invested millions in retention ponds to hold back the pollution hazards of stormwater on the springs.

  Commissioner McClain raised many good points that if heeded will actually stop County pollution of the springs. Citizens are asking if perhaps we should purchase Alachua's treated sewage waste in order to control where it is dumped.  Stopping the pumping into the aquifer will at least save the springs.  Proponents of dumping argue that even the Federal EPA allows up to 10 parts per million of nitrate in drinking water.  Citizens understand something drastic must happen to reduce the 1 part per million now causing problems in Silver and Rainbow Springs.

Call and ask Jim Payton, Mike Amsten and Barbara Fitos to vote against putting regulations on the people before ending High Profile Sinkhole Dumping.

Commissioners Charlie Stone and Stan McClain have already voiced alarm over the County of Alachua polluting our Aquifer just up stream from Marion County.  They have also called for the end of grand fathered point pollution sites by Marion County.  The Sink Holes used to direct storm sewer pollutants into the drinking water aquifer below Ocala and Marion County, must be stopped. 

The State Legislature repeatedly have rejected Springs Protection Attempts to divert attention away from the real polluters.  Senator Saunders was rejected after hundreds of articles by the Ocala Star Banner in support.  Again last year,  Senator Lee Constantine was reportedly trounced in sharp debate, when he attempted to sneak in his springs protection bill in the last hours of the legislative session.  Senators were able to demonstrate how Billions of Dollars would be wasted following proposed regulations on farmers and citizens who were not polluting.  Environmental leader Don Browning met with Senator Constantine in an attempt to inform him that the pollution was actually coming from Cities such as Altamonte Springs and Gainesville city utilities.  Actually, Mr. Browning informed the Senator, every important  pollution point source in Central Florida comes from a tax funded environmental authority such as the City of Ocala, Gainesville, Alachua or Altamonte Springs, for example.  Marion County is also a leader because much of their storm sewer pollution is from County buildings into City of Ocala Storm Sewer systems leading directly to the drinking water aquifer by direct pipe.  Some polluters to their credit pipe over land down to Silver Springs.  If Storm Sewer systems can be piped directly into the under ground streams or piped to within a half mile of Silver Springs, the pollutants can find their way into the boils and promote algae.

Governor Crist  is urged to sign Senate Bills 360 and 2080.  Leading environmental groups hope to juice up the economy in order to promote the economic health needed to properly support the environment.

DEP is likely to see its budget reduced by millions if we can't create growth in Florida necessary to generate adequate tax revenue,  declared environmentalist Don Browning.  Legislative leaders are struggling to fund DEP however, the springs working groups organized by DEP are a leading cause of reduced growth and tax revenue for Florida. 

House Spreaker Larry Cretul is working well with the leadership of both houses, to promote a stronger Florida Economy.  Governor Crist knows the importance of a healthy growing economy to have adequate tax revenue to fund environmental efforts.

Green Message we can live with.

Call Governor Crist and urge him to sign these important bills.  Our environment depends on a strong economy.

Call 850 488-7146 to ask Gov. Crist to sign both SB 360 and SB 2080.