Two Long Periods of Neglect in Sarasota County
1. Sarasota Wastewater Wake-Up Call During the severe 2018-2019 red tide bloom that plagued Southwest Florida, it was revealed that Sarasota County Utilities periodically had been releasing millions of gallons of reclaimed wastewater daily for several weeks and months at a time from their Bee Ridge Wastewater Reclamation Facility to Phillippi Creek. This neglect had gone on for years. While the wastewater was treated to remove pathogens, break down organic matter, and reduce nutrients, the concentration of nitrogen that helps fuel red tide was elevated well above that for direct discharge to surface waters such as Phillippi Creek and the bay . As residents and businesses suffered from the severe and prolonged red tide bloom, this revelation made Sarasota County Government seem tone deaf to the public it served. And stunningly, the County Commission at the time were surprised to learn that these reclaimed wastewater discharges had been occurring....