Major water pollutants and contaminants encountered in or near populated 

 areas frequently include industrial and municipal wastes including heavy 

 metals, fecal coliform bacteria, and synthetic organics. In rural areas, bio- 

 cides and fertilizers are major contaminants (when in excess). Turbidity 

 (dissolved solids) and sedimentation caused by sheet and gully erosion in 

 agricultural and logging areas may also contribute to water pollution. Anti- 

 pollution measures in the United States are only partially successful and the 

 cost of abatement in some areas is staggering, sometimes prohibitive. Because 

 of the high cost of pollution abatement, natural habitats and populations of 

 fish and wildlife too often are ignored, partly because their benefits cannot 

 easily be converted to dollars and cents. The cost of abatement or mitigation 

 usually is passed on to the consumer by increasing the cost of electricity, in 

 fossil-fueled steam plants as an example, but fish and wildlife largely 

 receive only secondary consideration and compensation for losses is rare. 



Costs for preventative abatement are usually much lower than for correc- 

 tive measures, a consideration that should be given in any pollution abatement 

 program. To eliminate or reduce current air and water problems at their 

 source and to suppress new or expanding pollution potentials in Southwest 

 Florida, some rather positive, more far-reaching attempts will have to be made 

 to control or limit pollution and to help satisfy environmental concerns. 

 Pollution in Southwest Florida is not as serious as it is in many parts of the 

 United States, and potentials for pollution abatement are relatively good. 



This report focuses on the real and potential effects of air and water 

 pollution on the natural and manmade environment in Southwest Florida, man's 

 encroachment on these natural resources, and regulations designed for their 

 resolution. It concerns lakes, creeks, rivers, lagoons, channels, bays, 

 estuaries, barrier island passes, and the air above. It relates to the socio- 

 economic structure and growth in the urban, suburban, and rural communities. 

 It lists water quality standards and current levels of compliance, emphasizes 

 clean air and water for residents and tourists alike, and describes some of 

 the chemical properties and pollutants of surface and ground waters in South- 

 west Florida. It also describes environmental problems concerning man's 

 encroachment on the natural environment and environmental regulations and 

 controls. 



Southwest Florida consists of Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, 

 Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee, DeSoto, Collier, and Monroe Counties. It is charac- 

 terized by warm weather, high annual rainfall, and high humidity. Average 

 January and July temperatures (°F) are in the mid-60° and the low 80° range, 

 respectively. The mean maximum and minimums in January are in the mid-70° and 

 mid-50° range, and those in July are in the 90° and 70° range, respectively. 



Florida has high rainfall from May through September (65% of the total in 

 5 months), and low rainfall from October through April (7 months). The rela- 

 tively low winter rainfall is caused by cyclonic storms that characterize the 

 eastern United States. Summer rainfall is attributed to convection storms 

 that are most common in the afternoon and early evenings. In summer, rainfall 

 is usually intense, but of short duration (1 to 2 hours) and highly localized. 

 Large tropical storms usually produce heavy rainfall over wide areas. Annual 

 rainfall averages between 50 and 55 inches. 



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