Disturbing. The number of septic tanks west of Lake Worth Beach.

UPDATE.

The issue of septic tanks in coastal Palm Beach County is an important topic in The Coastal Star this month, here are two excerpts from a recent editorial by editor Mary Kate Leming headlined, “Sewage disposal issues leave no time to waste”:


A perfect day in paradise can be spoiled by a backed-up toilet. An out-of-order sign on a bathroom door can turn a pleasant outing into an anxious search for functioning facilities. And after a storm, I can’t imagine anything more discombobulating than being told not to flush.

It’s indisputable: We all depend on smooth-functioning wastewater disposal to keep life clean and simple.

Over the next few months, our newspaper plans to explore what happens after we flush the toilet.

We plan to take a close look at how local municipalities are working to stay ahead of population and development increases during a time when that very growth is challenging the environment that defines the popular Florida lifestyle. Adapting to this change will not be cheap. Already we’re seeing municipalities struggling to make necessary improvements.

For August, Rich Pollack spent time talking with the people who manage our waste-processing plants and gives an overview of the improvements they are making, how much it all costs and what potential disasters keep them awake at night.

Next month, Pollack plans to illustrate problems with septic systems on small, urban lots and show how new technology is attempting to address environmental concerns.

and. . .

Sewage may not be a topic most of us like to discuss, but it’s about to hit us all in the wallet. Hard.


To read the entire editorial in The Coastal Star click on this link.

On the topic of septic tanks what follows is a blog post from last month:

Lake Worth Beach has very few parcels left on septic tanks and that is very good news. But the news west of Lake Worth Beach is anything but good news and this should alarm everyone in this City, especially those concerned about the environment, water quality and threats of blue-green algae in local lakes (e.g., Lake Osborne), canals and waterways all of which drain into the Lake Worth Lagoon, also referred to as the Intracoastal Waterway.

Many of you will be shocked by the number of septic tanks just in one unincorporated area called Lake Osborne Estates (see map below).

The issue of septic tanks became an issue last year when Vice Mayor Andy Amoroso requested a map of all septic tanks in the vicinity of the City and you can read all about that by clicking on this link.

Here is the latest: From Budget Work Session #2 held last Thursday, June 20th at the LWB City Commission on the topic of the City’s water and sewer funds we learned that Palm Beach County Environmental Resources Management is working on a septic tank “Heat Map” and this map of septic tanks in the County will be completed in the near future.

The topic of septic tanks came up several times at the City Commission last Thursday. For example, from the City’s YouTube video (see below) is a back-and-forth between Vice Mayor Amoroso and Brian Shields, P.E., the director of the Water Utilities Dept.

But it was later in the workshop that the surprising numbers came out. According to Shields there are 1000–1200 property parcels still on septic tanks west of this City and of that number there are four hundred and sixty-six just in Lake Osborne Estates alone. Also from the budget work session last week Vice Mayor Pro Tem Scott Maxwell wants to make it a priority to get these properties off septic tanks working with the state and the possibility of grants to aid the conversion from septic to sewer which can be very expensive.

Not only will septic-to-sewer conversion be a huge benefit for the environment but the additional customers will be a benefit for the City and the utility as well. Here is the exchange between Vice Mayor Amoroso and Dir. Brian Shields:



Very important for readers to understand. The actual City of Lake Worth Beach is approximately six square miles but the utility service areas (electric, sewer and water) cover many areas west in parts of the Village of Palm Springs and suburban (unincorporated) Lake Worth. For example, Lake Osborne Estates is in suburban Lake Worth.

Click on map to enlarge (note Lake Osborne, PBC Park Airport and John Prince Park to the west, all located in unincorporated PBC):

In this map Lake Worth Beach is shaded yellow, the Town of Lantana is shaded red. The unshaded area east of Lake Osborne is the unincorporated area called Lake Osborne Estates where there is a high concentration of septic tanks (note Lantana Rd. to the south).

For reference, to look over all the utility service areas (water, sewer and electric) click on this link for the online GIS maps.

Are all the septic tanks in Lake Osborne Estates being inspected on a regular basis? What affect are all these septic tanks having on the water quality in Lake Osborne?

The public concern about algae and water quality is very real. Many of you will recall what occurred back in 2016. Because of reports of toxic blue-green algae in the C-51 Canal, reports that turned out to be false, the July 4th Raft Race festivities in the Intracoastal were cancelled.

Stay tuned for more information. In the meantime contact your elected leadership in Lake Worth Beach and let them know that septic-to-sewer conversions west of the City are a concern of yours.