By Bruce Ritchie
Tallahassee Democrat
02/24/08

A Senate environment chair will take a smaller bite at protecting Florida's springs after lawmakers choked on a bigger effort last year.

Sen. Burt Saunders, chairman of the Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee, says he expects to file a bill to establish a pilot program requiring springs protection zones where advanced wastewater treatment and improved septic tanks are required.

The two springs targeted in the bill are Rainbow Springs and Silver Springs, both in Marion County. But the proposal may face opposition from developers and agricultural interests.

A bill last year that would have targeted four springs for protection, including Blue Springs in Volusia County and Wakulla Springs in Wakulla County, died without being heard in committee after agricultural and development interests opposed it, said former Sen. Nancy Argenziano, a Republican from Dunnellon who last year introduced the bill and now serves on the Public Service Commission.

Developers are voicing opposition again this time around. Frank Matthews, a lobbyist representing the Association of Florida Community Developers, said the bill would add to the cost of housing at a time when the real-estate market is in a slump.

Advanced septic systems cost between $3,500 and $7,500 more than standard septic tanks, said Anthony Gaudio, a retired septic-tank installer in Tallahassee who has been tracking the legislation.

Springs across the state have become choked with weeds and algae as nitrogen levels in groundwater have increased. Scientists say sources of nitrogen can include treated sewage, septic tanks, fertilizer, livestock waste and dirty stormwater runoff.

Like springs elsewhere in the state, Silver and Rainbow springs have suffered from increasing nitrogen, said Saunders, a Naples Republican. In North Florida, Wakulla County last year began requiring advanced septic-tank systems for new development and for failing septic tanks.

Leon County is considering establishing a Wakulla Springs protection zone with a similar requirement for advanced septic tanks but only for new homes.

Matthews said Saunders' draft legislation would duplicate the state's current process of establishing pollution limits on waterways.

"We think it's premature," Matthews said. "There is a lot of overlay regulation that already exists or is in place that should satisfactorily address springs."
 

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