Why can’t the JEA Buckman Wastewater Treatment Plant send its outflow into the St. Johns River, many people have asked?

Well, it does now.

But according to Florida Senate Bill 64 of 2021, JEA has to stop doing that less than 11 years from now, in 2032.

Wait, isn’t that about the goal for operation of the Water First North Florida (WFNF) pipeline for JEA Buckman outflow into wetlands in the Suwannee River Basin?

See below.

FL SB 64: Reclaimed Water, nonbeneficial surface water discharge, JEA Buckman Wastewater Plant, and WFNF 2025-2032

Here’s the purpose of SB 64:

403.064 Reuse of reclaimed water.
(17) By November 1, 2021, domestic wastewater utilities that dispose of effluent, reclaimed water, or reuse water by surface water discharge shall submit to the department for review and approval a plan for eliminating nonbeneficial surface water discharge by January 1, 2032, subject to the requirements of this section.

We have found that the JEA Buckman plant is nowhere near meeting potable reuse standards, what with an FDEP Consent Order on it right now for exceeding numerous outflow limits.

Fortunately for JEA, SB 64 provides at least two loopholes JEA could use.

a plan for eliminating nonbeneficial surface water discharge by January 1, 2032
PDF

According to a useful summary of SB 64 and its effects, JEA tried one loophole first. Joseph Haberfeld, P.G., Senior Hydrogeologist, ASRus, LLC, December 2022, Overview and Impact of Florida Senate Bill 64 on the State’s Water Disposal Options,

Jacksonville Electric Authority (JEA)

• JEA has 7 water reclamation facilities (WRFs) planning to inject or reuse water currently discharged to surface water
• Will direct 52 million gallons per day (mgd) to deep injection wells and 18.4 mgd to indirect potable reuse

JEA deep injection wells, 2022-12-01 –ASR US
PDF

There’s a section for that in SB 64.

Section 3. To further promote the reuse of reclaimed water for irrigation purposes, the rules that apply when reclaimed water is injected into a receiving groundwater that has 1,000 to 3,000 mg/L total dissolved solids are applicable to reclaimed water aquifer storage and recovery wells injecting into a receiving groundwater of less than 1,000 mg/L total dissolved solids if the applicant demonstrates that it is injecting into a confined aquifer, that there are no potable water supply wells within 3,500 feet of the aquifer storage and recovery wells, that it has implemented institutional controls to prevent the future construction of potable water supply wells within 3,500 feet of the aquifer storage and recovery wells, and that the recovered water is being used for irrigation purposes. The injection of reclaimed water that meets the requirements of this section is not potable reuse. This section may not be construed to exempt the reclaimed water aquifer storage and recovery wells from requirements that prohibit the causing of or contribution to violations of water quality standards in surface waters, including groundwater discharges that flow by interflow and affect water quality in surface waters.

Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR)
PDF

But now they’re going for this loophole:

403.064(17)(a)3.e. The discharge provides direct ecological or public water supply benefits, such as rehydrating wetlands or implementing the requirements of minimum flows and minimum water levels or recovery or prevention strategies for a waterbody.

e. The discharge provides direct ecological or public water supply benefits, such as rehydrating wetlands or implementing the requirements of minimum flows and minimum water levels or recovery or prevention strategies for a waterbody.
PDF

For example minimum flows and levels (MFLs) for the Ichetucknee and Santa Fe Rivers and their springs.

Somebody back in 2021 wrote into SB 64 a concise description of what would become Water First North Florida.

Water First North Florida Project Milestones
PDF

You can Ask Florida statehouse and Water Districts to explain JAX treated wastewater into the Suwannee Basin or to stop it, 2026-01-02.

https://wwals.net/?p=69143

Or county commissions, starting this evening in Suwannee and Union Counties.

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

You can help with clean, swimmable, fishable, drinkable, water in the 10,000-square-mile Suwannee River Basin in Florida and Georgia by becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations/

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