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Ocala Removing Pollution-Causing Septic Tanks

Florida's Silver Springs is being damaged, and it may be because of the area's toilets.

The city of Ocala is removing septic tanks and wells from 850 properties in the area, mostly because of the negative effects they have on Florida's lakes, rivers and natural springs.

According to Chase Basinger, a senior buyer and contract analyst for Ocala Procurement, septic tanks are one of the main reasons for increased nitrogen levels in Silver Springs, which has caused the spring to be deemed an impaired body of water by the Florida government.

Nine months into the $10 million septic-removal program, Ocala has completed 160 projects and is on pace to address 30-40 projects per week.

"I think it's a lot better of an idea," said George Cornish, an Ocala resident. "It's better than what they were doing before, if it's just going into the ground, just leaking into the ground."

Alex is a reporter for WUFT News and can be contacted by calling 352-392-6397 or emailing news@wuft.org.