Evidence of Global Phosphorus Crisis Seen on Marco Island

There is a phosphorus crisis underway which has major implications for the global food supply and the environment. A report titled “Our Phosphorus Future” is available online: www.opfglobal.com. Watch the video. This describes exactly what is happening on Marco Island regarding water quality. Additional engineering studies are not needed.

Our world is not sustainable when it comes to phosphorus. Phosphorus pollution is increasing globally, which is seen in algae and algal mats in the water bodies, common on Marco Island. Phosphorus from the Marco sewage treatment plant in the “poop water” is directly linked to declining oxygen in Marco’s canals. Algae clog the canals. Seagrass has died.

The man-made nutrient sources that remain on Marco are: 1) Reuse water (“poop water”) from the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) that contains excessive levels of phosphorus and nitrogen that is spread all over the island; 2) Potable (drinking) water from the water treatment plant contains phosphorus and nitrogen as well; and 3) Fertilizer which contains nitrogen.

What can we do? 1) Upgrade the sewage treatment plant to eliminate the excess phosphorus and nitrogen from the reuse water used to irrigate the landscaping of the condos, hotels, and golf courses; 2) Implement a full-year moratorium (ban) on fertilizer on Marco Island; 3) Examine methods to eliminate nutrients from our drinking water, also used for lawn irrigation. Marco must become “nutrient free.”