Posted July 5

Posted July 5, 2001

Letter to the Editor

Don't blame deep wells for coral reefs' demise

The greatest cause of coral reef deterioration is global warming, according to scientists at the June 20 technical advisory committee meeting of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Unfortunately, reefs worldwide are in decline because of this phenomenon ("Kudzu of the sea," June 17 Opinion section).

Closer to home, the Gulf Stream naturally is phosphorus-rich. The same deposits that make Florida one of the world's major fertilizer producers extend out off Florida's coast. Phosphorus continuously enters the Gulf Stream from these formations.

While two Ph.D.s conveniently blame deep-well injection of highly treated municipal wastewater effluent for all marine ills, it was informative to hear the broad-based scientific community confirm that deep-injection impacts are not detectable in offshore waters -- despite all their attempts to find them.

The Post's Sally Swartz, who wrote the article, should note that sewage is what enters the wastewater treatment plant, which removes more than 90 percent of the pollutants. The product that exits municipal wastewater treatment plants, including Palm Beach County Water Utilities, is a highly treated wastewater effluent.