Mac, and All, At 11:30 AM 12/20/2004, D C Macdonald wrote: >Ah, hah! Now we are getting someplace! > >Since an overload of nutrients can be very harmful >in the resultant buildup of algae and other plant life, >I can see that certain areas would wish to restrict >that situtation. Nope, not that simple. Bay County and several local municipalities (not including Panama City) have an Advanced Waste Water Treatment plant. The effluent from that facility is remarkably clear and odor-free. However, the plant does nothing to remove the nutrients, so they are pumped into the marine bay system. As you said, there is a bloom of algae every spring that lasts all summer and goes away when the water temperature drops. Right now, the water is almost crystal clear, except when the wind and waves stir up the shoreline. An unfortunate side effect of the injection of large quantities of nutrients and the resultant algae bloom is that the sea grasses do not get adequate light, and as a result, die. This, then, results in reduced oxygen in the water and we often have significant fish-kills. Some day, some of the waste water is planned to be used for irrigation of some areas such as golf courses and such. Since that distribution system will cost a lot to install, without much return (the water has to be significantly cheaper than clean, fresh water to induce folks to use it), it likely will not happen for some time. The developmental engineers, when proposing this AWT, said that the water was actually safe to drink, but it was the idea of where that water comes from which turned folks off..... me to! Take care and be safe. Wayne M/V Celestial Albin43 Sundeck