The Problem

The Water Didn’t Always Look Like This

Throughout history, Florida has been known for its clear, sandy-bottomed rivers, streams, lakes, springs, bays and beaches—places of beauty and revitalization that draw visitors from around the globe.

Today, many of the postcard-perfect blue waters that make Florida a tourist mecca are coming up green and choked with nasty, toxic algae. It has happened in front of pricey waterfront mansions. It has happened in rural streams, where neighbors fish for food. And it has happened along famous beaches, where horrified tourists and residents watch as the waves toss up hundreds of dead fish.

The culprit behind this environmental and economic crisis? Pollution caused by inadequately treated sewage, manure and fertilizer. This pollution is preventable. Now that we know more about how the nitrogen and phosphorus in sewage, manure and fertilizer tip Florida’s delicate ecological balance, we have a responsibility to do something about it. We know that excess nitrogen and phosphorus spur these toxic algae outbreaks. And we know the way to make Florida’s waters clean again is to limit this pollution at its source.

The fact is, industrial polluters have been using public waters as their cheap, private sewers for years. Now, they are bringing considerable political and monetary forces to fight against clean water standards that the public overwhelmingly supports. It is time for Florida to establish limits on the water pollution that threatens families’ health and drinking water.

This pollution is poisoning the rivers, lakes and streams that supply the water to kitchen taps. Floridians deserve clean drinking water, not water polluted with sewage, fertilizer and manure runoff.

Protecting Your Family from Toxic Algae
Protecting Our Economy From Algae Outbreaks
The Source of Toxic Algae Outbreaks
Setting Clear Pollution Limits
Preventing Toxic Algae Outbreaks
Updated Sewage Treatment Plants
Better Manure Management

News/Editorial

Florida Water Coalition Launches TV Ads

Recent News (Editorials Below)

Algae ‘mat’ choking lake – Punta Gorda Herald (5/3/2012)

Summer Slime: A Slippery Slope – The Bradenton Times (4/28/2012)

Florida environmentalists warn of ‘slime’ season – AP/ABC7 Sarasota (4/25/2012)

It’s “Summer Slime Season” in Florida – Public News Service (4/25/2012)

Health advisory issued for Lee waters – Ft. Myers News-Press (4/11/2012)

Hearing begins on challenge to proposed state water quality rules – Florida Current (2/27/2012)

Environmentalists applaud clean-water ruling against EPA, take on state next – Naples News (2/26/2012)

New limits on water pollutants on the way for Florida – NBC2 – Ft. Myers (2/19/2012)

Judge orders Florida water pollution limits – News-Press (2/19/2012)

Toxic fish can sicken seafood eaters – Sarasota Herald Tribune (2/9/2012)

Environmentalists call Florida congressman’s bill ‘a gift to polluter-lobbyists’- Florida Independent (2/1/2012)

Indian River Lagoon algae ‘super bloom’ studied – Florida Today.com (1/30/2012)

Algae bloom washing up along Caloosahatchee – ABC7-TV Ft. Myers (1/26/2012)

Wildlife Officials Rescue Manatee With Red Tide – NBC6-TV  Miami (1/25/2012)

Red Tide now blamed for some manatee deaths – WINK-TV (12/31/2012)

New Lawsuit Attacks State Failure To Curtail Pollution – Florida Sportsman (12/2/2011)

Slime Tour highlights Florida’s polluted waterways – ABC News Tampa (12/1/2011)

Florida’s Water Standards Challenged By Environmentalists -  Florida Times-Union (12/2/2011)

Red Tide Cause of Estero Bay Fish kill, Scientists Say – Naples Daily News (11/28/2011)

Marine biologists from the Sanibel Sea School as well as scientists from FGCU are saying red tide is back in full force. – ABC-7  (11/28/11)

EPA tells Florida: Enforce rules on fertilizer in canals – Palm Beach Post (11/19/2011)

Upper bay’s health iffy – Tampa Tribune (10/25/2011)

Red tide bloom threatens Sarasota beaches with fish kill – Herald Tribune (10/12/2011)

Red tide to blame for fish kill? – ABC-7  (10/11/2011)

Red tide bloom off coast of Lee County – WINK News (10/4/2011)

Tampa Bay algae bloom threatens the estuary’s fish – St. Petersburg Times  (8/27/2011)

Indian River Lagoon seagrass in drastic decline – Florida Today (09/25/2011)

Foes of EPA water rules for Fla. lose appeal – AP National (8/4/2011)

Water Pollution: Appeals court rejects challenge to clean water standards – St. Petersburg Times (8/3/2011)

State Water Rules Discussed – The News Service of Florida (8/3/2011)

Appeals court upholds pollution rules - Miami Herald (8/3/2011)

Ponte Vedra site of major fish kill – The Recorder (7/25/2011)

Mississippi plume could threaten life in Gulf – Herald Tribune (7/25/2011)

Algae Blooms Plaguing Gulf Coast – WUSF  (7/29/2011)

State agency cites industry numbers when questioned by lawmakers about water rule costs – Florida Independent (4/5/2011)

Editorials/Columns

Florida’s ‘perfect storm’ water crisis – Gainesville Sun (5/8/2012)

Court ruling positive step toward reducing pollution in Florida waters – TCPalm (3/1/2012)

The mauling of Florida’s environment – Tampa Bay Times (2/29/2012)

Message is clear: Clean up Florida waters – Tampa Bay Times (2/24/2012)

For clean water in Florida, depend on judge, not state – Palm Beach Post (12/6/2011)

St. Johns River put at risk by unwise decision – Florida Times-Union (11/9/2011)

EPA backs off tough clean-water rules in hopes of helping Obama carry Florida in 2012 – Palm Beach Post (11/7/2011)

Florida’s big water polluters win again - St. Petersburg Times – (11/4/2011)

Protect Florida’s waters, not polluters – St. Petersburg Times (9/14/2011)

This idea doesn’t hold water – Palm Beach Post (9/7/2011)

Cliff Stearns holds a hearing for polluters – Florida Times-Union (8/16/2011)

Victory for clean water – St. Petersburg Times (8/6/2011)

Guest column: Don’t dilute the Clean Water Act- Florida Times-Union (8/4/2011)

Proposal in U.S. Senate would weaken efforts in Florida, nationwide to clean up waterways - TCPalm (8/1/2011)

New federal regulations aren’t the enemy; the state’s intransigence is – Orlando Sentinel (7/26/2011)

House bill restricting EPA water rules wrong – Bradenton Herald (7/22/2011)

Florida Water Quality: Drowning in Pollution – Lakeland Ledger (7/22/2011)

Clean water doesn’t kill jobs – St. Petersburg Times (7/17/2011)

Florida needs EPA’s new standards – Ocala Star-Banner (7/17/2011)

Press Conference Materials

Press Release: Earthjustice Files Suit to Protect Floridians’ Right to Clean Water

Read the Petition

The Truth about DEP’s Faux Numeric Nutrient Standards (pdf)

Florida Slime Crime Tracker (Google Map)