Oxygen in Marco Waterways Dropped by 33% Since 2019. Why?

Google search these words: “What is the cause of low oxygen in waterbodies in Florida?” Google answer: “Excess nutrients delivered to a waterbody can lead to both overgrowth of algae and eutrophication. As dead algae decompose, oxygen is consumed in the process, resulting in low levels of oxygen in the water.”

Then Google search these words: “What is the source of excess nutrients in water bodies in Florida?” Answer: “Because there are increasingly more people living in coastal areas, there are more nutrients entering our coastal waters from wastewater treatment facilities, runoff from land in urban areas during rains, and from farming. All these factors can lead to increased nutrient pollution.”

Six years of data from Marco’s Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) reuse nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen) was compared to oxygen in the waterways of Marco Island. No farming on Marco.

Statistically significant results show that phosphorus in the reuse water from the Marco sewage plant is the direct cause of low oxygen in Marco’s waterways.

The sewage plant on Marco does not remove phosphorus from the Marco reuse water. The City of Naples WWTP is an upgraded Advanced Wastewater Treatment (AWT) facility and DOES remove phosphorus from the reuse water. Marco Island must upgrade the WWTP to AWT!

Florida residents must add an amendment to the Florida constitution for a Right to Clean Water (RTCW). Sign the petition: https://www.floridarighttocleanwater.org.