Blue Origin seeks to release wastewater into Indian River Lagoon

Blue Origin is seeking permission to release industrial wastewater into the Indian River Lagoon.

Under the proposal, the company would operate a 490,000-gallon-per-day industrial wastewater treatment plant, with 15,000 gallons per day being drained into an onsite stormwater pond and then the Indian River Lagoon.

“I’m sure that a lot of people are concerned that toxic rocket propellants are gonna seep into the Blue Origin water — um, no," Florida Tech's Director of Spaceport Education Don Platt said. "But, there are considerations and ramifications of other chemicals."

Platt explained the company uses highly filtered water to test and clean rocket parts.

"Things like machines that bend and machine the metal into the shapes needed for the rocket need to be cooled," Platt said. "They use