$389 million in grants to protect Florida’s water resources.

Governor Ron DeSantis declares his commitment to nutrient removal with over $389 million in grants to protect Florida’s water resources. https://www.flgov.com/eog/news/press/2025/governor-ron-desantis-announces-over-389-million-protect-quality-and-supply

Why is nutrient pollution a problem?

Nutrient pollution, created by excessive levels of nitrogen and phosphorus in bodies of water, typically originates from industrial fertilizer or waste runoff from factory farming, industrial facilities, or wastewater treatment plants. These increased levels of nutrients can deteriorate water quality, as algae can grow rapidly, reducing or even eliminating the oxygen supply and reducing the exposure to sunlight. Water quality in the ecosystem continues to suffer.

Nutrient pollution has been exacerbated by climate change, with increased water temperatures (more conducive to algae growth) and bigger storms (heavier rainfall leading to increased erosion leading to a greater influx of nutrients from the runoff). Nutrient pollution leads to habitat damage, loss of aquatic life, drinking water contaminated with toxins and bacteria, and ultimately negative impacts on human health.

As much as wastewater treatment plants have been identified as a critical solution for implementing technologies aimed at addressing nutrient pollution, it is an all-too-common occurrence in communities around the U.S. and around the globe. It is estimated that the cost of treating and preventing nutrient pollution – in the U.S. alone, between the years 2010 and 2020 – cost more than $1 billion, and that figure is expected to rise as global temperatures rise. Nutrient pollution will continue to wreak havoc on our waterways and on our water supplies, with or without the benefits that beavers bring to the watershed. And from our biggest oceans to our smallest lakes and ponds, we need to take a serious look at the use of industrial fertilizers and agricultural runoff – and begin to make changes – as if our world depends on it.