Fact, science, and simple solutions. Coalition for Property Rights’ latest newsletter says “environmental fraud” has been committed by the very agency in charge of fact, science, and simple solutions for septic systems. CPR sheds some serious light on why this battle has gone on for more than six years and one of the simple solutions that has been withheld – and by whom.
Reprinted with the permission of CPR
The fraud continues…
Last month, CPR spoke before a joint meeting of the Florida State House State Affairs and Agriculture and Natural Resources Committees. As reported in our October newsletter, CPR revealed to state lawmakers that expensive studies and reports blaming septic systems for polluting groundwater with nitrogen have little to no actual scientific evidence. These taxpayer funded studies are based mostly on computer models, estimations, and assumptions.
As you might remember, in 2011, CPR helped repeal legislation mandating state-wide inspections of all septic systems. The rules governing those inspections virtually guaranteed that permitted and functioning systems would have to be replaced. And, the homeowner out-of-pocket cost of the inspections alone amounted to almost $2 Billion over five years statewide.
The Bottom Line
Millions of dollars and five years after the initiation of the Nitrogen Reduction Strategies Study, we have no more evidence now than we did before about the true sources of nitrogen pollution in ground water potentially caused by septic systems.
Currently, nitrogen reducing solutions are being tested that may be every bit as expensive as the performance based treatment systems that the Florida Department of Health tried to force on the Wekiva Area homeowners six years ago. (By the way, these performance based treatment systems were mandated in the Florida Keys. It is reported they have as high as an 87% failure rate.)
An Exciting Potential Innovation
But now CPR has learned that a medium material has been developed that is 97% effective in removing nitrogen and other nutrients from septic tank effluent.
And, this material has been around since 2007.
It is called BOLD & GOLD (B & G) and was developed by Dr. Martin Wanielista at the University of Central Florida. This media can be placed between a septic tank and its drain field with remarkable effectiveness. And now for the best part of this product…it is made from old tires. When granulated and mixed with clay and sand, the resulting media mix reduces nutrients dramatically.
Despite its worthiness and promise, attempts to receive approvals to field test B & G have received bureaucratic run around for years, thanks to the Florida Department of Health who has authority to authorize its use.
Here are just a few of the amazing benefits:
A GREEN SOLUTION: BOLD & GOLD Media is a patented product primarily composed of readily recycled and naturally occurring components. USED TIRES GONE! Finely ground tires are one of the components, turning three environmental problems into a beneficial solution: (1) Septic system nitrogen reduction, (2) reducing illegal dumping and, (3) reducing number of spent tires dumped in landfills.
JOB CREATION.
Manufacture of the BOLD & GOLD product is accomplished through an agreement with a state-wide wide global manufacturer of cement products and has the potential to stimulate job creation within the State of Florida.
PROTECT GROUNDWATER.
BOLD & GOLD needs no special site or soil conditions and will remove nutrients even when the water table is less than 24” below the drain field. The life span of BOLD & GOLD for the removal of nitrogen is indefinite. It will remove nitrogen for as long as it remains in use. It has a predictable life span for the removal of phosphorus. Another possible site application is also under the drain field.
NON-DEGRADABLE & NON-TOXIC.
It is inert and poses no disposal hazard.
TROUBLE-FREE & RELIABLE.
Requires no maintenance or compliance testing.
NO CARBON FOOTPRINT.
Requires no pumps or electricity to operate. It is truly a passive nitrogen remedy for conventional in-ground septic systems consisting of a tank and drain field.
AFFORDABLE.
Adds a one-time $3,000 – $5000 to the cost of a new installation or drain field repair, and never needs to be replaced or refreshed.
PROVEN.
BOLD & GOLD has been thoroughly researched, documented and tested by a neutral third party for its nutrient reducing capability in septic systems and is used in various locations around the State including Seminole County as a means of reducing nutrients in stormwater.
Why? One has to ask, why would a product with such potential be held up by bureaucracy?
Environmental fraud not only produces studies with little to no science. Environmental fraud also suppresses innovative technologies that could solve real problems at a much less cost to “we the people.” We must all be vigilant and demand that our elected officials, who depend on government agencies and their reports, insist that such reports be scientific and allow such innovative technologies like B & G to be tested and proven in the sunshine.
CPR has already helped to establish direct contact between Dr. Wanielista and the Department of Environmental Protection so this product can be considered for future use.
We will continue to track this issue.
