Following fertilizer leads to farms, golf courses, landscaping amid algae blooms

Follow the fertilizer.

One of the suspected culprits of the toxic algae blooms that have plagued south Florida waterways since June can be traced to farms and groves, lawns and golf courses, landscaping and Orlando theme parks. Even local governments may be feeding the blooms. Septic tank leakage has factored as well.

And, environmental experts said, climate change behind fiercer storms and increased heat can bear some blame.

But the trail to the truth, like the polluted water itself, appears murky....

.....“Farmers are not necessarily against that,” Carpenter said of using fertilizer wisely. “We have some groups here in Wisconsin who are really interested in managing their farms to protect the water. It doesn’t have to be a big political fight. It becomes more an issue of how we mobilize the farmers so they can make the money still, and we lower the phosphorous levels to protect the water....

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Ken Notes: Are you reading this, "mobilize the farmers so they can make the money still, and we lower the phosphorous levels to protect the water."

Also can I point out that we we digested and heated effluent we would have a wealth of fertilizer that is stable and far more manageable not to mention cheaper....