By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter
A new state program had Levy County Commissioners up in arms Tuesday about the possibility of residents being forced to purchase expensive High-Performance Septic Systems.
The Florida Department of Environmental Regulation hasn’t released much information locally about revised Basin Maps Action Plans (BMAPs), which in itself has given rise to questions among the board members.
There is general information about the BMAP program on DEP’s website. https://floridadep.gov/…/basin-management-action-plans-bmaps
The BMAP program is aimed at reducing nitrate levels in springs and the streams and rivers they feed. Nitrate loading comes from septic systems, farming, and wastewater treatment systems among others sources.
Commission Chairman John Meeks said if homeowners are required to install a High-Performance Septic System rather than a traditional septic tank it could raise the cost of installation from $5,000-$7,000 to perhaps $17,000 to $20,000.
“That may make a difference between someone buying a lot, and building a home, or not. That’s a huge cost,” Meeks said.
“It makes a bunch of land, in my opinion, worthless,” Meeks added later.
Meeks said he first heard about the BMAP program when septic tank company owner Tommy Jones showed Meeks a color-coded map showing Levy County in a BMAP area.
Spotlight carried a story about the BMAP program April 13, 2018, when the Bronson Middle School FFA and its advisor, Marcia Smith, gave a presentation to the school board. The presentation was part of a contest.
The color-coded map shown to Meeks came from the Levy County Health Department, which regulates septic tanks. Meeks said DEP apparently hasn’t shared much information with the DOH regarding BMAPS.
A reporter at the commission meeting pointed out that nitrate contamination is affecting water bodies in this region of Florida including Manatee Springs, which has considerable algae growth.
Commissioner Lilly Rooks said she visited Manatee Springs Monday and was surprised by the amount of algae growth in the spring run and the spring boil, the lime rock opening through wish the water rushes out.
“I went there yesterday and I never in all my years of being there and going there seen it this bad,” Rooks said. “I didn’t see any grass (in spring run). All I saw was algae. It’s algae from the start of the boil all the way down the run.”
Meeks said he knows the goal of the BMAP program is to reduce nitrates in springs, streams, and rivers, but he said there’s another side to the issue.
“I know what the end game is, but where do you draw the line. People need a place to live,” he said.
This region of Florida is home to the largest number of freshwater springs in the world. The Floridan Aquifer is a source of springs like Manatee Springs. Cracks or holes in the lime rock give rise to fresh water flowing to the surface.
The Floridan Aquifer is also the source for much of the drinking water in Levy County. The same water that flows from the springs pours out of water faucets in homes.
No public meetings are set for the tri-county area to discuss BMAPS that would govern the lower Suwannee River and all its tributaries and springs, according to the DEP website. Levy County’s northern border is the lower Suwannee River.
The closest BMAP meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 15 at Florida Gateway College in Lake City. The technical meeting is for the Santa Fe Basin Management Plan governing the Santa Fe River and all its tributaries and springs.
The meeting will take place in the Wilson Rivers Media Center102 and is open to the public.
Link to DEP website for more information on BMAPS:https://floridadep.gov/…/basin-management-action-plans-bmaps
Board of County Commission Meeting May 8, 2018
Posted May 9, 2018
