Septic systems drive nutrient enrichment of groundwaters and eutrophication in the urbanized Indian River Lagoon, Florida.

Effluent from septic systems can pollute groundwater and surface waters in coastal watersheds. These effects are unknown for the highly urbanized central Indian River Lagoon (CIRL), Florida, where septic systems represent > 50% of wastewater disposal. To better understand these impacts, water quality was assessed along both canals and a tributary that drain into the CIRL. Dissolved nutrient concentrations were higher near septic systems than in natural areas. δ15N values of groundwater (+7.2‰), surface water (+5.5‰), and macrophytes (+9.7‰) were within the range for wastewater (>+3‰), as were surface water concentrations of the artificial sweetener sucralose (100 to 1700 ng/L) and fecal indicator bacteria density. These results indicate that septic systems are promoting eutrophication in the CIRL by contributing nutrient pollution to surface water via groundwater. This study demonstrates the need to reduce reliance on septic systems in urbanized coastal communities to improve water quality and subsequently mitigate harmful algal blooms.

Nutrient content and stoichiometry of pelagic Sargassum reflects increasing nitrogen availability in the Atlantic Basin.

The pelagic brown macroalgae Sargassum spp. have grown for centuries in oligotrophic waters of the North Atlantic Ocean supported by natural nutrient sources, such as excretions from associated fishes and invertebrates, upwelling, and N2 fixation. Using a unique historical baseline, we show that since the 1980s the tissue %N of Sargassum spp. has increased by 35%, while %P has decreased by 44%, resulting in a 111% increase in the N:P ratio (13:1 to 28:1) and increased P limitation. The highest %N and δ15N values occurred in coastal waters influenced by N-rich terrestrial runoff, while lower C:N and C:P ratios occurred in winter and spring during peak river discharges. These findings suggest that increased N availability is supporting blooms of Sargassum and turning a critical nursery habitat into harmful algal blooms with catastrophic impacts on coastal ecosystems, economies, and human health.