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Our state regulatory system fails to adequately protect us & our waterways from pollution. Good environmental laws go unenforced. Citizens cannot enforce their right to a clean environment if pollution or other harm is permitted by the state.
DID YOU KNOW:
80% 1,000 of Florida’s artesian springs are polluted or impaired.
Nearly a million acres of estuaries and 9,000 miles of streams and rivers designated for recreation are contaminated with fecal bacteria.
Th frequency and duration of red tides have exploded: over 184 months of red tide in the past 27 years.
Blue-green algae blooms are becoming the “new normal” and are being linked to neurodegenerative diseases.
No state has more acres of polluted lake water than Florida.
No state has lost more acres of wetlands than Florida.
The Indian River Lagoon has lost 58% of its seagrass, or 46,000 acres, since 2009.
In 2022 Hurricane Ian led to a 7.2 million gallon spillage of raw sewage into the Indian River Lagoon in Titusville.
Why does Florida need a Right to Clean and Healthy Waters?
It has become clear that the current system of water protection has failed; the state executive branch is not enforcing clean water legislation according to environmental laws, legislative intent and constitutional policy. Although a right to clean water already exists by statute, it defers too much to state executive agencies to guard against harm. The proof of dysfunction frequently makes national news, with routine harmful algae blooms, fish and wildlife mortality events and public notices of pathogenic or toxic contamination of our waters. It’s not okay. People suffer, wildlife suffers, property values suffer, businesses suffer, & communities suffer. Waiting for political solutions in a system that favors pollution industries financing those politics – is a fool’s game. We need a clear, simple, legal solution to restore the necessary checks and balances for such a critical necessity to all lives – water.
Locally the economic value of the Indian River Lagoon is estimated to be $7.6 billion with 70.1% of that being valued in Brevard County alone at $5.3 billion.
Nearly 72,000 jobs directly or indirectly supported via the lagoon. The lagoon attracts millions of when through action or inaction it allows each year to the region. If we continue down this path allowing pollution to continue visitors will not come which will have a tremendous impact on our economy.
What will the Florida Right to Clean Water Amendment do?
The amendment will hold the state accountable when through action or inaction it allows the polluting and degradation of our waters and aquatic ecosystems. The amendment creates a fundamental right to clean water and healthy waters. The amendment may be used to sue the state executive agencies for harm or threatened harm to Florida’s waters, which include aquatic systems. It will be in the bill of rights section of our state constitution and beyond the reach of the Legislature to overturn or compromise. Courts can order declaratory or injunctive relief to make necessary corrections in state executive agencies’ approach, including restoration of waters.
It empowers Floridians to be good stewards, finally.
Final thoughts from all political parties in Florida in support of the Florida Right to Clean Water Amendment
The power of the people can create a law that promotes liberty, government accountability, conservation, good stewardship and human health and safety, and by restoring checks and balances on water policy, that instills public trust in the political system.
By stemming special-interest influence in politics, this law will support healthy coastal communities and marine ecosystems to enhance economic well-being and greater environmental justice for all lives are dependent on clean and healthy waters.
This law draws a clearly defined line against any government (permitted) action or inaction that harms or infringes on the rights of others, demanding restitution when proven, quantified and required in a court of law.
This law provides effective enforcement mechanisms to assure a safe and adequate quality and supply of water and the conservation of ecosystems and watersheds based on peer-reviewed science.
This is a non-partisan issue. Every Floridian wants safe drinking water and clean and healthy waterways. This amendment will create a fundamental secure right to clean and healthy water for all Floridians.
Visit https://www.floridarighttocleanwater.org/ to sign the petition.
