February 14, 2024
Solid science is the foundation of good policy. That’s why Miami Waterkeeper is excited to collaborate with Florida International University, the University of Massachusetts, the University of Miami, and NOAA to study the pollutants in the Coral Gables Waterway. The City of Coral Gables is funding this project to further evaluate the sources and quantities of pollutants like nutrients, metals, and fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) and how these pollutants contribute to declining water quality in Biscayne Bay.
Miami Waterkeeper knows that regular assessments of water quality can reveal underlying problems and potential solutions. The Coral Gables Waterway, a series of canals that flow into Biscayne Bay, has a large number of houses bordering it that use septic tanks. Getting Miami Dade off septic permanently is a major campaign of Miami Waterkeeper. Miami’s porous limestone combined with sea-level rise make the county’s 100,000+ septic tanks a colossal threat to our water.
We look forward to leading the education, outreach, and policy development components of this project. We will also be assisting with water sampling. These collaborative assessments of water quality will guide municipalities in how to manage nutrient pollution and improve water quality long-term. Our mission includes assisting the City of Coral Gables with infrastructure planning that prioritizes clean water solutions.
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