Opinion
Numbers, please
TBO.com
Published: February 21, 2013
Two year ago Pinellas County banned all sale and use of inorganic fertilizers containing nitrogen. The goal was preventing the nitrogen from being washed into the Gulf, Tampa Bay and other bodies of water, harming fish and causing other environmental damage.Published: February 21, 2013
Despite the ban, the problem remains. The nitrogen level in Lake Seminole, for example, is four times the standard the state sets. There are a number of reasons for the continuing problem. For one thing, the stormwater infrastructure in unincorporated Pinellas is aging and much of it was built before the extent of the pollution problem was known. In addition, because of the recession and the collapse of the Pinellas real estate market, county government in recent years has been laying off some of the people who are supposed to help control the run-off problem.
County commissioners last week took a preliminary step toward adopting a fee to help pay for clean-up of polluted waters and improvements to the stormwater system. Some cities have such a fee but the county doesn't. So far, county officials haven't put a number on the stormwater fee residents of unincorporated Pinellas might be asked to pay.
Commissioner Norm Roche wants to hear how effective the fertilizer ban has been, since the county still isn't meeting the state standards, before considering a fee. The stormwater overhaul needs to be done, but it would be instructive to see how effective the fertilizer ban has been before moving forward.