Water Quality Improvements for the IRL

At the City of Titusville, improving the health of the Indian River Lagoon is one of our top priorities. As stormwater runs across the land into inlets, pipes and ditches, different types of debris, sediments, and nutrients are picked up along the way. Since stormwater eventually makes it into the lagoon, without intervention, these pollutants can make it there as well.

Excess nitrogen and phosphorus are two major pollutants of the lagoon because they contribute heavily to eutrophication: an overabundance of nutrients in a body of water. Eutrophication can cause harmful algae blooms (HABs) which deplete the level of oxygen in the water. Oxygen depletion can then lead to harm and/or death of fish, shellfish, birds, mammals, and other aquatic life. It can also reduce the growth of important aquatic plants such as seagrass, which is an important food source for the Florida manatee.

In an effort to prevent these excess nutrients from reaching the lagoon, the City has implemented several stormwater projects that help reduce them. Many of these projects focus on nitrogen and phosphorus removal since these nutrients, as discussed above, are particularly problematic. These projects include stormwater ponds, vegetative infrastructure, and baffle boxes. These projects all work together toward the ultimate goal of reducing nutrients from drainage areas before they empty into the lagoon.

The following sections explain how the implemented stormwater projects work and where they are located. These projects are placed all over the City, and you may even recognize some of them as you explore the interactive maps.

Since 2016, the City has been awarded 27 grants from organizations including Save Our Indian River Lagoon (SOIRL), the St. Johns Water Management District (SJRWMD), and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). Additionally, the City has received grants from state legislators and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

The City has received a total of $20.4 million in grant funding from 2016 to 2024 for projects to improve water quality in the Indian River Lagoon.

See the tables below for the source(s) and total grant funding, and completion or anticipated completion year for each water quality improvement project within the City.

Retention ponds allow for storm water to be collected, treated, and then released at a controlled rate. Stormwater flows into and collects in retention ponds. During this time substrates including sediment and suspended particles settle to the bottom while the filtered water rises above. When enough stormwater enters the pond, the water from the top reaches a pipe that allows for its release. Retention ponds have good capacity to remove excess urban nutrients and improve the quality of surface runoff.

Floating wetlands, or Managed Aquatic Plant Systems (MAPS) and Beemat Systems, are man-made wetlands installed in bodies of water throughout the City. These wetlands provide the same benefits natural wetlands do. Sediments and contaminants found in stormwater are filtered by these floating wetlands, improving the overall water quality. As these wetlands rid water of agricultural nutrients there will be less algal blooms, dead zones, and greenhouse gas emissions that cause environmental damage.

Littoral zones are the areas that represent the transition between land and open water. Plants that are installed in these shallow areas can help filter out and remove excess nutrients and contaminants.

Tree Boxes are a specific type of bioretention practice. They are vegetated engineered landscape practices designed to filter or infiltrate stormwater runoff. They can be incorporated into a wide variety of landscaped areas, including highly urban and ultra-urban environments landscapes.  Integrating urban trees into stormwater management systems provides opportunity to provide significant stormwater benefits using elements (trees and soils) that are already part of most sites and developments.

Titusville currently has 14 stormwater infrastructure projects (excluding baffle boxes) completed throughout the city. Use the map tour below to view all of our infrastructure projects.

To get the most out of your experience, click on the first point of interest on the left-hand side. The rest of the tour can be navigated by scrolling down on your mouse, tablet, or phone. For computers use the "+" and "-" buttons at the lower right of the map for any additional zooming. (Hint: all photos can be enlarged simply by clicking on them).

Baffle Boxes are stormwater structures designed to remove sediment, suspended particles, and other pollutants from storm water. The box contains a series of settling chambers separated by big concrete walls called baffles. As stormwater enters the box, pollutants settle while the filtered water rises and pours over into the next chamber. The boxes also contain nutrient removal media that helps reduce the amount of nutrients in the water prior to it leaving the box and entering the Indian River Lagoon.

As of 2024, the City has 16 completed and 2 upcoming baffle box projects. Use the map tour below to explore all of the City's baffle boxes.

To get the most out of your experience, click on the first point of interest on the left-hand side. The rest of the tour can be navigated by scrolling down on your mouse, tablet, or phone. For computers use the "+" and "-" buttons at the lower right of the map for any additional zooming. (Hint: all photos can be enlarged simply by clicking on them).

The table below shows the total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorous (TP) reductions in lbs/year achieved as of 2022 through baffle boxes, floating wetlands, stormwater ponds, and other nutrient management projects throughout the City!

The City has achieved its 2025 milestone requirements, and is closing in on it's 2030 milestone, for total nitrogen and total phosphorous reductions.

These reduction milestones were set by Florida Legislature in 2023  per H.B. 1379 . As of 2022, 26,974 lbs/year TN reductions and 5,100 lbs/year TP reductions have been achieved.

How you maintain your lawn can impact the lagoon. Here are some lagoon friendly lawn practices to improve lagoon health.

• Using lagoon friendly fertilizer
• Placing yard waste on your lawn for pickup instead of in the street
• Blowing lawn clippings back onto your property instead of into the gutter
• Planting native plants
• Picking up pet waste to prevent it from entering a storm drain.

For more information on how to obtain a lagoon friendly lawn visit  Keep Brevard Beautiful (KBB)’s Lagoon Friendly Lawn Program . This partnership between KBB and the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program recognizes residents who have lagoon friendly lawns as well as give information on how to obtain a lagoon friendly lawn. You can also visit the University of Florida to find out more about  Florida-Friendly Landscaping .

Lagoon health can be impacted by regular vehicle maintenance such as washing or changing of fluids. Here are some vehicle maintenance practices that are also lagoon friendly.

• Do not dump, bury, or burn any vehicle fluids.
• Dispose of your vehicle fluids properly at  Mockingbird Mulching Facility .
• Wash your car in a carwash rather than in the driveway.
• If washing your vehicle at home choose soaps, cleaners, or detergents labeled phosphate-free and biodegradable.
• Wash your vehicle on your lawn, not your driveway.

For more information on how to be more lagoon friendly when maintaining your vehicle, visit the  Eco-friendly Car Maintenance  page on Lagoon Loyal and  Helping From Home  page on One Lagoon.

The  Lagoon Loyal  program encourages residents all across Brevard County to take actions to benefit the health of the lagoon. You can take a quick quiz that gives you a baseline on how you are impacting the lagoon! This program also rewards residents with exclusive rewards for use at local businesses for participating. More information on how residents and businesses can reduce their impact on the lagoon is available on the  Lagoon Loyal website .