What is clean water and why don’t we have it?
To the editor:
I was recently on the banks of the Caloosahatchee River observing the moving water. A stranger walked up next to me and made the observation that the water looked very clean. Looks can be deceiving! Unknown to him recent water testing had revealed a high level of fecal indicator bacteria. The river also carries a very high nutrient load of excess nitrogen and phosphates. As the days grow longer, and the water gets warmer these excess nutrients will be consumed by various forms of algae. The algae seem harmless at first but it out competes healthy aquatic vegetation. The result is no seagrass, starving manatees and dying fish as the oxygen in the water is depleted.
As aquatic creatures die, they decompose, using up even more oxygen, perpetuating the cycle of death. Yes, water can look great and still be very polluted. Clean water has great visibility, high levels of oxygen, low levels of nitrogen and phosphates and minimum algae growth. This allows for healthy beds of seagrass, an incredible amount of aquatic life and even healthier people.
We don’t have clean water because we have not held our elected officials accountable for enforcing laws that are currently in place. Instead, they issue permits granting exceptions to the laws.
YOU can stop this pollution getting the right to clean water on the ballot as an amendment to the Florida constitution. Please go to Floridarighttocleanwater.org, download the petition, sign it and mail it back.
Dan Carney
Cape Coral