TITUSVILLE, Fla. — The Titusville City Council on Aug. 26 approved a consultant task order to monitor stormwater outfalls, authorized city staff to apply for multiple Indian River Lagoon (IRL) water-quality grants totaling $6,045,000 and asked staff to research a commercial “nanobubble” treatment for muck and algae.

The council unanimously approved task order No. 5 under contract CO21Q027 with Geosyntec Consultants Inc. to perform a stormwater outfall risk assessment and monitoring program. City staff described the scope as targeted sampling for E. coli and human waste indicators, with the consultant developing a prioritized list of sampling locations and recommendations based on results. Public works director Kevin Cook said the task order amount is $89,828.70 and that the work has already helped identify a likely sewage source near Spaceview Park.

Council also approved, as part of the consent agenda, authorization for staff to apply for funding through the Indian River Lagoon Water Quality Improvement Grant Program for four projects totaling $6,045,000. The grant package described in the agenda includes reef arches and mangrove plantings at Riverfront Park and Harrison Street, sewer connections for unserved areas and reuse storage to expand the city’s irrigation reuse system. Residents and local advocates urged council support during public comment, citing shoreline restoration and reduced shoreline erosion as expected benefits.

Meanwhile, Councilmember Meaghan Moscoso and others supported a staff request to study a commercial nanobubble system with ozone injection offered by Moliere Incorporated (Hawthorne, Calif.). Council approved an advisability request directing staff to do due diligence, contact the company for a demonstration and report back at a future meeting. Laura Lee Thompson and other community members urged an evaluation, while resident Stan Johnson raised skepticism about the technology’s claims; council instructed staff to consult county counterparts and technical experts before any demonstration.

Why it matters: The monitoring contract and the grant applications signal a stepped-up local effort to locate and respond quickly to sewage sources, reduce nutrient loads and stabilize vulnerable shorelines along the lagoon. If proven at small scale, the nanobubble technology could offer an alternative to large mechanical dredging projects, proponents said. Council members emphasized that exploring the technology does not commit city funds to a pilot beyond routine due diligence and possible presentation by the firm.

Supporting details and next steps: Cook told council the monitoring program will begin by identifying high-risk outfall locations and performing repeated sampling (E. coli and markers for human waste) to help confirm and then prioritize corrective action. Staff said SORL and FDEP grants are available for sewer connections, and members of the public pledged volunteer support for mangrove plantings.

Council actions were unanimous on all related items. Staff will return with recommendations about demonstration logistics, potential funding sources for a demo or pilot, and a report on the results of the outfall monitoring once Geosyntec begins the field work.