Estero staff: river bacteria often exceed reference levels; septic tanks implicated
Village staff presented monthly monitoring showing Enterococci and E. coli levels above reference baselines at several sites, particularly where septic tanks or package wastewater treatment plants are common. Staff said planned package wastewater treatment projects could reduce bacteria over months to years but that nutrient trends may lag.
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David, the village's water‑quality presenter, gave a detailed briefing on the Estero River monitoring program and the data staff use to prioritize projects. Monitoring at numerous sites (some with decades of records, others newly added) focuses primarily on bacterial indicators and total nitrogen because the Florida Department of Environmental Protection has identified bacteria concerns in the watershed and for Estero Bay.
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