Senate panel recommends springs action

Ichetucknee Springs State Park

A Senate panel is recommending that the Legislature consider establishing local septic tank utilities across the state to protect water quality.

Senate President Jeff Atwater, R-Palm Beach, established the Senate Select Committee on Florida's Inland Waters in October and named Sen. Lee Constantine, R-Altamonte Springs, to chair it. The committee held six hearings around the state before issuing the five-page report with six findings and 13 recommendations.

The committee found that Florida's watersheds are suffering from excess nitrogen and phosphorus and that new sources of drinking water must be developed to avoid impending water shortages.

For more, read the Florida Tribune story at: http://tinyurl.com/y8c3k9u

To download the report, go online to: http://www.flsenate.gov/data/committees/Senate/meeting_packets/SFW.pdf

(Story and photo copyrighted by Bruce Ritchie and FloridaEnvironments.com. Do not copy or redistribute without permission.)