Watered-down springs bill brings disappointment

Published: Friday, April 25, 2014 at 6:30 a.m. Last Modified: Thursday, April 24, 2014 at 11:18 p.m.

Things could change between now and May 2, when the legislative session ends. But many people will be disappointed, especially since they had such high hopes just a couple of months ago.

That was when five influential state senators created an ambitious, comprehensive bill that would have set the groundwork to restore some of the state's most damaged springs. The original bill, the Springs and Aquifer Protection Act, would have required the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the state's water districts to identify the most problematic septic tanks and hook them to municipal wastewater systems if possible at state expense.

The act also would have developed more stringent standards for wastewater treatment plants and farm fertilizer application.

And unlike many other legislative measures that came before, this bill would have been funded to the tune of nearly $400 million annually from real estate taxes.

But since its initial proposal, and most recently during a Senate committee this week, the bill that once was hailed as the most progressive in years was left almost unrecognizable.

Resistance from business lobbies, property owners and local governments have taken a hefty toll. Some of the things taken out of the bill:

tougher nitrogen discharge standards for wastewater treatment plants in spring zone areas;

a requirement that farmers and ranchers in spring zones follow best management practices;

tough deadlines for establishing minimum flows and levels and implementing springs recovery and prevention strategies;

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Watered-down springs bill brings disappointment