TITUSVILLE, Fla. — The push to guarantee water quality for Titusville residents continues after a motion was dismissed at Tuesday night’s meeting.

Newly elected Councilwoman Megan Moscoso made a motion that would have dismissed an existing appeal to a charter amendment that was approved by voters in 2022. The motion was her first action on council.

Some angry residents have been pushing the city to clean up the Indian River Lagoon, long plagued by sewage spills and stormwater runoff, resulting in large fish kills and manatee deaths.

In 2022, nearly 83% of residents voted on a referendum to amend the Titusville City Charter and encode the right to clean water into it.

That’s something the past council didn’t certify then, and the current council still hadn’t certified it weeks after the 2024 election.

The measure would allow residents to sue government or corporations that pollute local waterways.

Moscoso declined an interview request but sent a statement saying, in part, “The right to clean water ensures that if industries pollute Titusville’s water, they’re held accountable for restoring the environment to its original quality. This isn’t about punishment, it’s about protecting our resources by discouraging pollution and encouraging industries to prevent damage in the first place.”

Stel Bailey runs Fight for Zero, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving the environment and water quality.

She believes Moscoso did the right thing as her first motion on the council.

“She was willing to truly represent the people who elected her into office and to certify those 2022 votes, that have continued to remain uncertified,” Bailey said.

There is currently no word if the water quality issue will be brought up at future council meetings.