Commendation for the City of Marathon’s Transition to Deep Sewage Wells: A Letter from Keys Last Stand

December 11, 2023                                                                                        Sent by email

Mayor Still

Councilmember Landry

Councilmember Gonzalez

Councilmember Matlock

Councilmember Smith

Dear Mayor and City Councilmembers: 

Keys Last Stand commends your decision to change your use of shallow injection wells for sewage disposal and construct a deep well instead.

We all agree that wastewater needs to be handled correctly.  What we flush is freshwater.  Given that freshwater floats on top of saltwater and recognizing the Keys porous geology, shallow wells are a problem. 

Recent scientific research confirms the need to employ deep wells and reinforces conclusions of many earlier studies.  Scientists from Penn State University conducted a multi-year study of Marathon’s wastewater system and concluded:

1.   “Wastewater is impacting surface waters.”

2.   “Shallow wastewater injection at Area 3 is releasing nutrients and other contaminants to surface waters of the halo zone of the Florida Keys.” 

These findings were presented to the Water Quality Protection Program of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary in November. 

We urge you to make this needed transition a reality as soon as possible, because the cost of preserving our nearshore waters and fish nurseries, as well as the health of all citizens who use these waters, will ultimately outweigh the expense of this undertaking.  Please help protect our nearshore waters and the marine life (plant and animal) that depends on clean water.  Neither our residents nor our visitors need to be concerned about swimming in water compromised by wastewater contaminants (nutrients, pharmaceuticals, and who knows what else). 

Keys Last Stand urges you to move forward with plans for and implementation of a deep well to safely handle Marathon’s sewage disposal. 

Sincerely,

Board of Directors

Keys Last Stand