Residents near the Orange River are dealing with more than just a mess from Hurricane Ian. It’s an environmental issue.
Michelle, a local resident, described the aftermath. “The house smelled so bad,” she said. “The pool was covered in everything. Everything was brown inside the outside the house.”
The brown mess? Human waste. “Our neighborhood is actually with septic and so the septics had gotten flooded,” said Michelle. “It was everywhere.”
Lee County is now taking action. They’re starting a project to switch 85 homes from septic tanks to a central sewer system in Orange River Estates and Ortiz Circle near Billy’s Creek. This aims to prevent leaks that push nitrogen and phosphorus into the waterways.
“We’re actually happy about this, going to city water,” said Michelle. “We’re very happy about it.”
Jason Pim, a volunteer with Calusa Waterkeeper, explained the importance. “Anytime you have a septic tank or a drain field that close to water, it’s usually a good idea to address that,” he said.
Orange River and Billy’s Creek are known for nutrient and bacteria overflow. “There’s no silver bullet,” said Pim. “Our water quality is getting damaged by death by 1000 cuts. It’s going to take 1000 band aids, too.”
While this project won’t solve everything, it’s a step in the right direction. “It’s a good thing that the county is doing this,” said Pim. “In the big picture, we’ve got so much more to do.”
For Michelle, it’s peace of mind. “God forbid if something like that happen again, at least I know that it won’t be sitting there and rising,” she said. “I would not wish that on anybody.”