City of Marco Island - Sewer System Commendations

The City of Marco Island has received commendations from representatives of public health and environmental groups for recognizing the need to protect and preserve the City’s water resources by instituting a central sewage system before severe and irreparable damage is caused to its tidal canals and adjacent bodies of water.

Jon Iglehart, Director with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), addressed the department’s position on Septic Tanks versus central wastewater collection treatment and disposal systems. Mr. Iglehart stated: “it is the Department’s opinion that central wastewater collection and treatment systems offer a preferred environmental alternative for serving the utility needs of a community such as the City of Marco Island.”

Dr. Joan M. Colfer, M.D., M.P.H., Director, Collier County Health Department stated, “In short, migration to a standard central sewer system is a positive action by the City of Marco Island in the best interest of the public’s health.”

Iglehart stated, “Septic Tanks, when properly designed, constructed and maintained, perform well in sparsely populated areas where large tracts of lands are available for wastewater disposal. In such cases, the impact of Septic Tanks on the resources and on the neighboring properties is minimized due to a low density of population and adequate setbacks from other development.

“In urban and coastal areas, septic tank and drain-field systems can have a significant impact on resources, particularly in residential communities interspersed with tidal canals. These impacts generally include increases of both nutrient and Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) levels in the canals and adjacent water bodies. These often result in an increased potential of algal blooms, lower dissolved oxygen, and subsequent reduction of fish populations. In canal communities where septic systems are older or are not regularly maintained, the presence of fecal coliform bacteria and human pathogenic organisms within the canal systems and adjacent waters is commonly documented.

“Central wastewater collection, treatment and disposal systems in communities with canal systems provide significantly greater water quality protection to the resource in a number of ways. Central systems perform the treatment of wastewater to meet water quality standards, providing direct protection to the environment.

“Because the system collects the waste from a large number of sources, occasional waste concentrations are quickly diluted so there is no treatment issue at the facility. A similar disposal into a septic system could render it non-functional for a long period of time. In addition, wastewater treatment facilities produce a significant supply of clean and disinfected re-use water, suitable for the community’s irrigation needs. This reduces the demand for the production of potable water for these purposes, providing energy savings and reducing aquifer needs.”

Iglehart concluded by stating, “Based on the above it is the Department’s opinion that central wastewater collection and treatment systems offer a preferred environmental alternative for serving the utility needs of a community such as the City of Marco Island.”

Brad Cornell, Big Cypress Policy Associate and Conservation Policy Analyst with the Collier County Audubon Society, stated in a letter to the City: “On behalf of the approximately 6,000 Audubon members in southwest Florida, I wish to commend the City of Marco Island for its proactive and politically courageous efforts to conserve our area’s precious water resources, and to reverse a wasteful trend that has plagued the Island. As the rapid growth of southwest Florida accelerates, it is critical that all of our communities recognize and act on the need to conserve and protect water resources and the wetlands and aquifers that are their source. In particular, Audubon of Florida and Collier County Audubon Society recognize the City of Marco Island for:

Dr. Joan M. Colfer, M.D., M.P.H., Director, Collier County Health Department stated, “Septic systems are much more susceptible to misuse from residents not familiar with non urban waste treatment requirements."

“When public sewer is available it is always the desired way to serve the urban domestic waste needs of residents. Public sewers will provide the most flexibility for future development of the property and the assurance that the maintenance and operation of the system is regulated and monitored.”

In addition, Dr. Colfer stated, “The possible interaction with tidal areas, potential flooding and septic system failures make the public sewer system a more desirable option to protect public health in your island environment.