Reported By: Jay Cashmere
Photographer: Tom Special
If you like this video....check out all of Jay's Underwater Wednesday Reports. or
Check out Chopper 5 which is packed with video of the marine life off our shores.
It's a problem 92 feet below the surface a mile off Lake Worth. A dormant outfall about to spew a controversy.
"This is a disaster waiting to happen," says local scientist Dr. Mike Risk.
Dozens of divers, environmentalists and scientists packed a special meeting Tuesday afternoon to discuss a permit. A permit that will soon pave the way for a million and half gallons of treated water to pour out of a pipe in the ocean each day.
"These are the last remaining reefs in the continental U.S. the best reefs you have left are off this coast," says Risk.
Environmental groups fear the water will be filled with enough nutrients to create algae blooms killing nearby reefs. Florida Department of Environmental protection couldn't disagree more.
"Think about this matter as ocean water diluted 50/50 with rain," says Dr. Paul McGinnes.
DEP officials say it will not be wastewater, sewerage or nutrient laden instead saying it will be concentrated saltwater with some nutrients. It's the cheapest alternative for Lake Worth Utilities supported by the South Florida Water Management District and a byproduct of a reverse osmosis process to produce drinking water.
"Everything that we've seen as far as the science and dilution models, it shows that the ammonia it’s insignificant by the time it reaches the surface," says Linda Brien with the Department of Environmental Protection.
Officials held the meeting after receiving over 800 emails as far away as Australia in opposition to the plan. They want public input and they're getting it.
"They're supposed to be protecting us," says local lawyer Barry Silver.
Environmental groups vow to fight until the end promising litigation if this plan flows forward.
"It's real important to me that we protect that not only for our children, but our children’s children and future generations," says scuba diver Karla Wilkins.
The Department of Environmental Protection will take all of the input into consideration before making a final determination on granting the permit later this summer.
To learn more about how you can monitor, preserve and protect coral reefs check out Palm Beach County Reef Rescue.
