This isn’t your dad’s stormwater treatment system

A mammoth-sized hole is needed to install a stormwater baffle box in Titusville. The project will reduce nutrient flows to the Indian River Lagoon.

Cost-share project with Titusville benefits Indian River Lagoon

PALATKA, Fla., July 18, 2019 — The St. Johns River Water Management District and the city of Titusville are partnering on a state-of-the-art stormwater “baffle box” that will capture hundreds of pounds of nutrients annually before they can reach the Indian River Lagoon.

“This is one more example of the district’s cost-share program helping a community reduce its impact on the Indian River Lagoon,” said St. Johns River Water Management District Executive Director Dr. Ann Shortelle. “We’re proud to work with the city of Titusville on this project in support of Governor DeSantis’ executive order targeting water quality improvements.”

The city of Titusville is installing its third high-tech baffle box with specialized filters that will capture nutrients as well as foliage, trash, sediments and hydrocarbons to prevent contamination of area bodies of water. As for nutrients, the South Street Basin Baffle Box is estimated to prevent 720 pounds of total nitrogen and 125 pounds of total phosphorus annually from reaching the lagoon.

“It’s always an exciting opportunity to partner with the district on such important projects as these,” said Sandra Reller, Titusville’s Public Works deputy director. “We try to take advantage of every opportunity that becomes available to improve water quality in the Indian River Lagoon. The estuary is such an integral part of life here.”

The district funded $110,000 in cost-share funds of the $337,000 project.