Citrus: Human taint of waters affirmed

Human taint of waters affirmed

Research provides evidence of septic tank pollution of the Chassahowitzka River. The report is ammo for advocates of state aid for a sewer system.

By ALEX LEARY

CHASSAHOWITZKA -- They found the "smoking gun" in September and now researchers say they have solid evidence that septic tanks are polluting waters in this community.

Tests conducted by University of South Florida scientists during the past year confirm "widespread" human fecal pollution in the Chassahowitzka River and its canals, according to a report made public this week.

"Data in the Chassahowitzka study show that septic tanks are influencing the water quality of adjacent surface waters," the report concluded.

"Removing septic tanks would eliminate their impact on the water quality in the Chassahowitzka watershed."

Chassahowitzka River Restoration Committee spokesman Mickey Newberger visited Tallahassee this week to distribute the study results.

"I hope this report will convince members of the Legislature that this is a funding priority," he said.

Lawmakers already have set aside $1-million for constructing central sewer lines but an additional $3.1-million is needed, Newberger said.

County officials are lobbying for the extra funds and also are optimistic the study will buttress their cause.

In some respects, the findings confirm what has long been suspected: that septic systems near the river and canals are faulty and soils used to purify waste water are not suited for the task.

"In this particular situation there are too many houses and there is not enough soil between the drain field and the water table," said the lead researcher, Joan Rose, a USF microbiologist. "And groundwater is highly connected to the surface waters and highly connected to the springs."

In 1998, tests indicated high levels of fecal coliform bacteria and viruses in the river.

Last September, researchers flushed biological tracers down the toilets of two waterfront homes near the main spring.

The tracers, which indicate the presence of viruses that can cause disease in humans, showed up in a nearby canal within days.

"It's sort of a smoking gun," Rose said at the time. "This evidence shows that what we're putting down the toilets influences . . . the water there."

The comprehensive results of the study, which cost about $60,000 and was funded by Citrus County and the Southwest Florida Water Management District, indicate just how acute the problem is.

Giardia, a parasite that can cause diarrhea, was detected at five of the seven surface water sources.

Also found were enteroviruses, which can cause respiratory disease and inflammation of heart and lung tissue, among other things.

"When you drink these viruses, they move from the gut, where they grow, to other organs in the body and that's where they can cause disease," Rose explained Friday.

"They don't always do that. It's kind of rare, but it can happen."

The main focus of the study was surface water but well water also was tested.

Three of 10 wells in the study tested positive for indicators of fecal pollution.

But there is no direct evidence the septic systems are contaminating the well water.

"We tested the well water to find if there was anything suspicious that would leap out," Rose said. "What we saw matches national surveys of well water."