Groundwater nitrogen pollution is insidious because dissolved nitrogen is invisible in drinking water and has no taste or smell. A person cannot tell if they are drinking water polluted with harmful levels of nitrate-nitrogen unless the water is tested by an analytical lab.
Florida's springs are suffering from nitrate pollution and the only regulatory tool in Florida to restore the springs to health are Basin Management Action Plans, or BMAPs.
Since 2018, Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has been required by state law to write BMAPs that identify the sources of nitrate pollution and outline regulations and programs to reduce the nitrates coming from those sources. These BMAPs should contain viable plans to restore springs to health within a 20-year timeframe.
As required by the Clean Waterways Act (2020), the DEP must prepare updates to its nutrient BMAPs by July 1, 2025, in a manner consistent with the law. The initial public webinars were conducted online throughout the month of May.
On June 20, the Florida Springs Council (FSC) conducted an online live presentation that highlighted the deficiencies in the BMAPs that the DEP had presented for seven of the 30 Outstanding Florida Springs.
Recent reports reveal a troubling increase in nitrate pollution across many of Florida's springs, indicating that Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs) implemented over the past six years have failed to produce positive results. The situation appears to be worsening as since 2018, nitrogen pollution in impaired Outstanding Florida Springs has increased by more than 1.5 million pounds per year.
Take Suwannee Springs, for example. The target for nitrate pollution reduction has increased from 71% in 2018 to 86% in 2024. To put this in perspective, imagine being asked to cut your household budget by 86% over the next 15 years. Achieving such a drastic reduction without significant incentives seems nearly impossible.
Agriculture is the primary contributor to nitrate pollution statewide. For the Suwannee and Santa Fe rivers, hay and improved pasture production for livestock are the main culprits. Without strict regulations to limit nutrient loads, achieving the necessary reductions remains an unrealistic goal.
The DEP has been criticized for continually postponing the deadlines for nutrient load reductions instead of addressing the issue within the legally mandated timeframe. Meanwhile, the Florida Legislature has shown little concern over the DEP's failure to develop a legally compliant plan for the state's Outstanding Florida Springs.
It's crucial to hold both the DEP and the Legislature accountable. Effective BMAPs are essential for the health of Florida's springs, and immediate action is needed to ensure these plans deliver real, measurable improvements.
The good news:
We have an opportunity to select legislators who will protect our fresh water when deciding who to vote for in this election year.
We can demand a Better BMAP as outlined by the Florida Springs Council - one that realistically accounts for the increased demands for water due to population growth and limits the allocations of consumptive water use permits. One that prohibits in-ground irrigation systems and application of nitrogen fertilizer on new development while imposing a moratorium on new agricultural water use permits. Additionally, the DEP must allocate the necessary reductions on each category of non-point nitrogen pollution to achieve these ambitious goals.
The DEP will be conducting further webinars and workshops as required by law to conduct the BMAP updates over the next year. Sign up here and learn more about the actions we are organizing in the months ahead.