Drinking Water Safety

By Kim Hackett

Health warning for three more area beaches

“……Experts say polluted storm-water runoff can degrade drinking water supplies, contaminate fish and contribute to the growth of harmful algae blooms

According to a study by the Natural Resources Defense Council last year, the number of closing and advisory days at ocean, bay and Great Lakes beaches in 2006 topped 25,000 — more than ever recorded in the survey’s 17-year history.

Florida’s drainage problems stem from development practices decades ago, when facilitating growth took precedence over water quality protection.

Elaborate regulations now require systems to treat the storm water from new development to prevent water pollution.

But officials have struggled for years to figure out how to improve water quality in runoff from older developments………”