To the Editor:
Factual errors appear in the front-page article in last week’s Eagle entitled: “Waterways over pollution thresholds: City data shows tested sites exceed acceptable levels.” The statement: “From February 2001 until present, the city’s environmental technician Nancy Richie tested twelve sites monthly … for fecal coliform, enterococcus, and nitrogen levels” is incorrect. Ms. Richie’s 2001—2002 data indicate monthly testing for Nitrogen, Total coliform and Fecal Coliform but not for Enterococcus. In 2003, Enterococcus was added, Total Coliform was dropped, but the test frequency was halved to every other month! How hypocritical of the City to claim it must sewer Marco to preserve our waters while slashing the test program!
The article correctly reports that “the state has not determined acceptable nitrogen levels” but goes on to claim that “nitrogen levels may not exceed 0.9 milligrams per liter.” That contradiction should have been flagged by any copy editor! The article fails to state that the “safe” levels of fecal coliform (200 MPN/100 ml) and enterococcus (35 MPN/100 ml) are based upon MONTHLY AVERAGES, not upon maximum readings because a “calling card” left by a passing manatee, dolphin or pelican will contaminate any single reading. City Hall combed through five years of data to hunt out the highest number and used that as indicative of our water quality. The dishonesty of doing so should have been revealed in the article!
The suggestion that the enterococcus level at Jane Hittler Park once measured 1040 colonies is incorrect. That measurement was taken in September 2002 and was for TOTAL COLIFORM, not for enterococcus, which wasn’t measured until 2003! Retest indicated a total coliform of 46 MPN; the “safe” level is 1000 MPN! The fecal coliform figure of 500 in the article was measured at the same location, on the same day as the 1040 total coliform, probably using the same water sample. Upon retest, the fecal coliform was 11 MPN; “safe” is 200 MPN! The first water sample apparently was contaminated with something but Mr. Moss failed to tell your reporter that.
Mr. Joel – and now Mr. Moss – have been using incorrect data on television and in the newspapers for the past several weeks. It is clear that they are not simply “making an honest mistake,” they are purposely using the press to spread misinformation and scare our citizens into believing that sewers are needed to protect our waters. To achieve their goal, they are destroying the reputation of our island before the world. In business, that calls for immediate dismissal and I call upon the Council to act accordingly. I also call upon the press to check the accuracy of any “facts” provided by these deceitful people before publishing inflammatory articles.
Ed Foster
Chairman, C.A.R.E.S.
Prepared & Paid For By Citizens Advocating Responsible Environmental Solutions, Inc. (C.A.R.E.S.)