Algae task force meeting to focus on septic tanks in SWFL water crisis

When it comes to water quality issues, there is no one source to blame. But, an upcoming agenda meeting will focus on the role septic tanks play.

Right now, about 100,000 people in Lee County have active septic systems.

“If you’re in a rural area or far enough away from the infrastructure,” said Dr. Mike Parsons, member of the Blue-Green Algae Task Force, “septic tank makes sense.”

Florida Gulf Coast University Professor Parsons said sewers might become more suitable as those areas become more developed.

“Then you have all the costs associated with it,” Parsons said.

To back up that claim, Lee County commissioned a study by Florida Atlantic University. The study found that human waste is a substantial part of our water quality issues.

Septic tanks dating back to the 1950s are not protecting our water, allowing sewage to end up in the Caloosahatchee River and other waterways.