Few people in Florida think about where their sewage ends up and we assume that the government is protecting us and the environment, but this is not always the case. It is not uncommon for people to be swimming right next to a sewage outfall pipe and not even realize it.

Last week, the Florida Clean Water Network released a report on the current condition of thousands of domestic wastewater treatment facilities along the Gulf Coast of Florida reveals that decades of poor planning and lax enforcement of the Clean Water Act has created an infrastructure meltdown. Our research found that many of Florida's domestic wastewater facilities are either over-capacity at times or simply not performing at levels for which they are designed. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) frequently allows permits to expire for extended periods of time, issues permits that are not protective of surface and/or groundwater standards, and is inconsistent if not lax on enforcement.

In recent years Florida has seen unprecedented durations of red-tide and other harmful algal blooms, massive fish kills, and contaminated beaches - all of which can be linked to excessive nutrients and bacteria. Sewage plant discharges contain both pollutants.

While money is always an issue, some community leaders find creative ways to get much needed improvements funded and under construction. But some utility violators get adept at the cat and mouse game with DEP. Unfortunately, DEP is like a cat without claws or even a sense of smell - often ignoring glaring violations and cries for help from beleaguered citizens.

Below is the full report as well as a spreadsheet on our findings. The bottom line is be careful out there on the water this summer.

Citizens who want more information about sewage treatment and disposal in their communities can contact Clean Water Network of Florida at 850/222-8701 or cwnfl@earthlink.net.

Clean Water Network of Florida have more than 200 group members and thousands of individuals who work together to protect Florida's springs, wetlands, rivers, estuaries and coastal waters.