On Wednesday, a bipartisan group of lawmakers gathered to encourage the Florida Legislature to pass the Safe Waterways Act, sponsored by Senator Lori Berman (D-Boca Raton) and Representative Peggy Gossett-Seidman (R-Boca Raton, Highland Beach). Senate Bill 338 and House Bill 165 would ensure better water quality for Floridians to keep the public healthy and safe while engaging in water activities.
The Safe Waterways Act moves the reporting and communications responsibility among state agencies and the public to the Department of Environmental Protection; provides for a central website; digital messaging notification, and requires municipalities and counties to provide immediate to timely reporting of contaminated waters.
This much-needed legislation will dramatically improve public notification of imminent danger to the public when beach waters, the Intracoastal Waterway, coastal estuaries, canals and public swimming locations are contaminated by fecal indicator bacteria-laden wastewater, chemicals and other dangerous pollutants.
Millions of Florida residents and tens of millions of tourists enjoy recreation in Florida’s beaches, springs, and waterways every year. Many of these millions of residents and tourists may not know that nearly one million acres of coastal beaches, estuaries, and 9,000 miles of Florida’s streams and rivers, could be deemed impaired by fecal indicator bacteria and other pollutants.
Currently, there is not a clear system in place to notify the public on an emergent or need-to-know manner, despite the capability of readily available and instant internet, cellular and social media communications.
Sources of contamination include wastewater pipe breakages, malfunctioning sewage treatment plants, leaking septic tanks, landscape chemicals runoff, industry chemical runoffs, and animal waste.
Exposure to elevated wastewater bacteria levels in the water can cause symptoms such as nausea, diarrhea, stomach cramps, chills and fever. Skin rashes and infections of the eyes, ears, nose and throat may also occur.
The bill pays homage to the groundbreaking Clean Waterways Act SB 712 passed by Sen. Debbie Mayfield and Rep. Bobby Payne in 2020. That bill made a common sense change that moved water-related monitoring from the Department of Health to DEP, the agency that provides most of the field-testing for agencies.
Senator Lori Berman (D-Boca Raton), a longtime water safety advocate: “The public has a right to know whether the beaches and waters they’re swimming in are infested with fecal bacteria. Florida is failing in its responsibility to promptly inform the public and protect their health when water samples fail to meet safe levels. All we’re asking for is transparency in water quality and consistency in public notification so residents and tourists can safely enjoy our world famous waters.”
Representative Peggy Gossett-Seidman (R-Boca Raton, Highland Beach), a scuba diver, longtime boater, and former Red Cross Lifeguard and Water Safety Instructor: “Too often the public discovers the waters are contaminated days after they went to the beach. The complex reporting system between cities, counties and states is ineffective and outdated. We need one central reporting method such as 911, maybe 462 symbolizing H2O. People need to know when to find another activity if the beach is contaminated,”
Representative Lindsey Cross (D-St. Petersburg), an environmental scientist: “The Safe Waterways Act will protect Floridians from the negative health effects of dirty, polluted water. By transferring authority to the Department of Environmental Protection and requiring immediate action, members of the public will know when it is not safe to visit the beach or public bathing area. As our state continues to grow, we must invest in the infrastructure and pass proactive policies like this that prevent water pollution and protect human health.”
