Blue Origin, founded by Jeff Bezos, has been quietly discharging nearly 500,000 gallons of industrial wastewater daily into the Indian River Lagoon. This wastewater originates from the company's rocket-component testing and cooling systems, initially meeting drinking water standards. The process, permitted by Florida for about five years, has recently come under scrutiny due to permit renewal and violations.
The wastewater flows into a large pond, approximately the size of seven football fields, before reaching the lagoon. The permit renewal, which includes some changes to wastewater handling, has sparked concerns among conservationists and the Brevard County Commission. They are now advocating for a public hearing before the state permit is renewed.
The draft permit does not increase Blue Origin's discharge cap but introduces stricter monitoring and numeric limits for nutrients, aligning with updated water quality requirements. A second, smaller outfall for cooling-tower water has been formalized within the existing wastewater capacity. The Indian River Lagoon, an ecologically sensitive waterway, receives industrial wastewater from various sources, including manufacturing, commercial businesses, and petroleum- and chemical-contaminated sites. For more information on this topic, Texans Wire provides valuable insights and updates on the situation.
Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin aims to keep discharging almost 500,000 gallons a day of water that starts as drinkable, is used in rocket-component testing...Looking to read more like this: Check here
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