WEST PALM BEACH — June 3, 2003 — One week after the Florida Legislature amended the Everglades Forever Act and guaranteed funding to complete water quality restoration in the River of Grass, the South Florida Water Management District is accelerating cleanup using the latest technology. Years ahead of schedule, new "green" technology, known as Periphyton-Based Stormwater Treatment Area (PASTA), will go on-line in one of the six man-made treatment marshes that filter pollution from water entering the Everglades.

"Water in 90 percent of the Everglades is clean," said Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary David B. Struhs. "Funding made available by the Legislature is putting cleanup of the remaining 10 percent years ahead of schedule. We are now in a position to use breakthrough technology, which guarantees continued water quality improvements over the next decade."

As part of its intensive schedule to improve water quality in America's Everglades, Florida is already implementing proven technologies, including improved farming practices and construction of Stormwater Treatment Areas. The groundbreaking PASTA technology uses algae and microscopic organisms to clean phosphorus from the water before it flows into the Everglades. Until now, funding was not available for such advanced water treatment technologies within the treatment marshes.

"Initial results of the algae-based technology show great promise," said South Florida Water Management District Executive Director Henry Dean. "Putting this type of technology on the table and in play will guarantee progress toward achieving the stringent water quality standard throughout the entire Everglades."

As a result of amendments to the Everglades Forever Act, the South Florida Water Management District is able to use an estimated $650 million over the next 13 years to implement advanced water treatment tools, like PASTA, which reduce phosphorus entering the Everglades.

PASTA will go on-line in Stormwater Treatment Area 3-4. As part of its commitment to the Everglades, Florida is prepared to provide the federal government with financial assistance to implement the advanced treatment technology in Stormwater Treatment Area 1-East, which is still under construction.