To monitor, preserve, and protect the coral reef ecosystem of
South Florida through research, education, and public awareness.
The Delray Outfall Project
The Problem
A sewer discharge pipe sits offshore of Atlantic Avenue, near downtown Delray Beach. Nutrient pollutants, not removed during the wastewater treatment process, fuel coral killing algae blooms for miles down-current (north) of the outfall pipe.
Every day of the year, 24 hours a day - the Delray Beach ocean outfall discharges 14 million gallons of inadequately treated sewage into a coral reef ecosystem.
In 2002 the nutrient discharge load from the sewer plant reached a tipping point and triggered a Lyngbya, cyanobacteria algae bloom on nearby Gulf Stream Reef. The bloom persists and has degraded many acres of coral reef; primary habitat to a host of threatened and endangered species.
Under the federal Clean Water Act wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) must have a NPDES permit to legally discharge pollutants. To be granted a permit a WWTP must demonstrate no unreasonable degradation to the receiving environment will result from the discharge. The Delray sewer plant has been unable to meet this most basic requirement.
Reef Rescue volunteer divers, over a five year period, have collected water and algae samples, documented reef conditions and prepared numerous scientific reports demonstrating the cause of the Gulf Stream Reef Lyngbya bloom is nutrient pollutants discharged from the Delray Beach ocean outfall sewer pipe.
Algae blooms fed by inadequately treated sewage are just the tip of the iceberg. A host of pathogens, hormones and drugs not removed by the wastewater treatment process pose a threat to both humans and the ecosystem.
Skeleton of a sea fan smothered by stringy red
Lyngbya algae on Gulf Stream Reef.
In December 2005, unable to meet the requirements of the Clean Water Act, Delray’s NPDES permit expired. The plant continues to operate without a valid federal permit.
One year later (December 2006) responding to public outcry fostered by PBCRR’s public relations campaign, the sewer plant board (composed of members from the combined city councils of Delray and Boynton Beach) voted to eliminate the ocean outfall and pursue alternative methods of disposal. The WWTP upgrades are expected to be completed by early 2009.
PBCRR continues to collect data and monitor reef conditions. We are closely watching the upgrade process to ensure the WWTP is making a good faith effort and moving forward with all due speed to eliminate the discharge of pollutants into our coral reef ecosystem.
The federal EPA has identified the Delray Beach and Boca Raton sewage outfalls as representing the most significant risk to human health of the six south Florida outfalls due to their near-shore proximity. EPA quote: “The most probable human exposure pathways include fishermen, swimmers [scuba divers], and boaters who venture out into the Florida Current and experience direct contact, accidental ingestion of water, or ingest fish or shellfish exposed to effluent.”
Palm Beach County Reef Rescue
P.O. Box 207
Boynton Beach, FL 33425
(561) 699-8559