The Vero Beach City Council last week struck another blow in the battle against nitrogen in the Indian River Lagoon, voting unanimously to expand septic-to-sewer conversions into unincorporated parts of the county.
The city plans to use its STEP system technology to channel waste from county septic tanks into city sewers so that nitrogen from human waste and other harmful chemicals does not enter groundwater and end up in the lagoon.
Vero plans to “prioritize the extension of wastewater utility service into ‘basins’ based on proximity to surface water that may have a negative impact on the water quality in city watersheds,” focusing on areas within reach of its sewer lines…