At the federal level, the Clean Water Act is the primary law that addresses water pollution. The law requires that state environmental agencies complete total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) for waterbodies that are determined to be chemically or biologically "impaired." In Florida, this authority is delegated to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP).

Over the past several years, the Florida Legislature has been aggressive in requiring the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to develop a scientific-based framework to address the degradation of our state's Outstanding Florida Springs.

In 2016, the Florida Legislature created the Florida Springs & Aquifer Protection Act, which identified 33 Outstanding Florida Springs that require additional protections to ensure their conservation & restoration for future generations.

Marion County has two Outstanding Florida Springs; Silver Springs & Rainbow Springs. The scientific framework & detailed strategies to improve water quality are described in basin management action plans (BMAPs), which provide a road map for springs restoration.

The total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) for Silver & Rainbow springs identified the main sources of nutrients entering our springs, including agriculture, urban fertilizers & septic systems as major contributors. Strategies identified in the BMAP for Silver & Rainbow Springs are aimed at reducing nitrogen from each of these sources.

Agricultural operations are required to enroll in best management practices; the county & municipalities have adopted regulations to improve urban fertilizer practices & the BMAP includes an onsite sewage treatment & disposal system (OSTDS, also known as a septic tank) remediation plan to reduce nitrogen loads from domestic wastewater. This is particularly relevant in Marion County, where almost 90,000 homes use septic systems.

The Florida Springs & Aquifer Protection Act requires an onsite sewage treatment & disposal system (OSTDS) remediation plan where the loads from septic systems have been determined to be more than 20% of the nutrient load. The Silver & Rainbow springs systems meet or exceed this 20% threshold. The FDEP has provided Marion County a grant to implement the OSTDS remediation plans for these systems.

State statutes require that OSTDS remediation plans contain the following elements.

• An evaluation of credible scientific information on the effect of nutrients, particularly forms of nitrogen, on springs & spring systems.
• Options for repair, upgrade, replacement, drain field modification, the addition of effective nitrogen-reducing features, connection to a central sewer system, or other action.
• A public education plan to provide area residents with reliable, understandable information about OSTDS & springs.
• Cost-effective & financially feasible projects necessary to reduce the nutrient impacts from OSTDS.
• A priority ranking for each project for funding contingent on appropriations in the General Appropriations Act.

We have developed scenarios to address the nutrient loads in both Rainbow & Silver springsheds that will best fit our community & meet the state legislative mandates & regulatory requirements for consideration by the county commission.