Friends of the Everglades executive director deflects on septic tank impact on water quality

FORT MYERS, Fla. (FLV) – Friends of the Everglades Executive Director Eve Samples deflected when asked about the major impact of septic tanks on polluting Florida’s waterways.

Samples doubled down on agriculture being the problem, even though her home and office are on septic, which data has shown is a major contributor to poor water quality.

A recent comprehensive 2023 study showed drainage ditches, canals, creeks, and the Caloosahatchee River Estuary “often have high concentrations of nutrients and bacteria limiting their designated uses.”

That study connected terrible infrastructure to the harmful algal blooms and poor water quality.

The study “provides evidence of widespread human waste pollution” in Lee County and urged for infrastructure improvements. 

However, Friends of the Everglades consistently blames farmers for the nutrient pollution in the waterways.

During a recent interview with WPTV 5 about toxic algae blooms, Samples said nutrient pollution due to “agricultural runoff” and the sugarcane industry “occupying” land south are the problems.

Florida’s Voice asked Samples about the study connecting terrible infrastructure such as septic tanks to harmful algae blooms, especially since her home and office are on septic tanks.

Samples was asked if it was hypocritical to blame farmers for nutrient pollution when she is on septic tanks that contribute to the problem.

“It’s indisputable that agriculture is the largest source of nutrient pollution in the Lake Okeechobee watershed, as is detailed in the state’s Lake Okeechobee Basin Management Action Plan,” Samples said in response to Florida’s Voice.

“Tackling the largest source of nutrient pollution into Lake Okeechobee is essential if we’re going to protect the lake and connected estuaries from toxic algae blooms,” she continued.

Florida’s Voice asked what Friends of the Everglades is doing to bring attention to the septic tank issues, when social media posts are focused on farmers, Lake Okeechobee discharges, and fertilizer bans.

“Regarding your question on septic tanks, Friends of the Everglades’ 2023 legislative priorities called on the Legislature to require periodic septic tank inspections,” Samples said.

Samples believes farmers having the “vast majority” of capacity of the taxpayer-funded Stormwater Treatment Areas south of Lake Okeechobee to drain their fields is the problem. Other people believe septic tank conversions and the need for northern storage need to be more of a priority to help solve the nutrient pollution problems.