Hahira, Georgia, May 18, 2026 — Two experts from Georgia and Florida on current water topics will speak at WWALS River Revue, the sit-down fundraising dinner for WWALS Watershed Coalition, Inc., plus the music of a headliner and the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest, and a silent auction.
https://wwals.net/pictures/songwriting2026
![[Speakers, WWALS River Revue, September 12, 2026, Amy Sharma on Datacenters, Rick Davis on WFNF]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2026-05-18--pr-speakers-wwals-river-revue/many.jpg)
Speakers, WWALS River Revue, September 12, 2026, Amy Sharma on Datacenters, Rick Davis on WFNF
Lafayette County on Tuesday became the sixth county to pass a letter or resulution against Water First North Florida (WFNF), the scheme by JEA, SJRWMD, and SRWMD to pipe treated wastewater from Jacksonville into the Suwannee River Basin.
The other counties are Madison, Columbia, Suwannee, Hamilton, and Baker, plus the Town of Branford, the Rivers Task Force, and the North Central Florida Regional Planning Council. The last two organizations each represent all twelve counties in the Suwannee River Water Management District.
![[Lafayette County against WFNF & for desalination, April 28, 2026]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2026-04-28--lafayette-county-wfnf-resolution/fbmany.jpg)
Lafayette County against WFNF & for desalination, April 28, 2026
There are better ways to address both lower flows and levels in the Suwannee Basin and JEA’s legal requirement to stop outflowing into the St. Johns River; see The promoters bear the burden of proof about WFNF –WWALS to SRWMD 2026-04-13.
For much more about WFNF, including upcoming county commission and city council meetings, see:
RESOLUTION NO. 2026-04-06
A RESOLUTION OF THE LAFAYETTE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OPPOSING THE WATER FIRST NORTH FLORIDA AQUIFER RECHARGE PROJECT AND RECOMMENDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ALTERNATIVE WATER DESALINIZATION PROJECT
WHEREAS, Continue reading
Wastewater professional Joe Squitieri pointed out that 2032 may not be the real deadline for wastewater outflows to stop going into rivers according to FL SB 64.
Extensions could be granted until 2039, or maybe even 2044. So JEA could keep outflowing into the St. Johns River after 2032.
Here’s the video:
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1329841519196016/
He also reminded us that the JEA Buckman wastewater plant is under a Florida Consent Order for exceeding a range of contaminant limits.
Plus, even when that plant is in compliance, it produces quite a bit of nitrates and other contaminants. It failed a test that involves putting fish in the outflow: none of them survived, he said. Then there are PFAS forever chemicals and pharmaceuticals.
“They really don’t know what they’re doing,” he said.
He recommended if they can clean it up enough, they should turn their wastewater into potable reuse.
For much more about Water First North Florida (WFNF), including all the local and regional elected letters and resolutions against, who you can contact, and a petition, see:
For the other speakers at that meeting, see Continue reading
Update 2026-04-14: The promoters bear the burden of proof about WFNF –WWALS to SRWMD 2026-04-13.
Nine years after Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson asked them to stagger their meetings, SRWMD and SJRWMD are still meeting the same day, three hours drive apart.
So tomorrow if you want to talk about Water First North Florida (WFNF), you much choose: SRWMD in Live Oak or SJRWMD in Palatka.
For much more about WFNF, including who else to contact, some questions to ask, and a petition, see:
Here’s the WWALS video of Merrillee from January 17, 2017:
https://youtu.be/lCnR0Rw0BF8?si=V7Zpwc53S3__6CS6 Continue reading
![[FL statutes give JEA until 2032 or 2039 or later to divert its wastewater --Joe Squitieri @ SCRP 2026-04-02]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2026-04-02--scrp-wfnf-squitieri/fbmany.jpg)
![[Stagger SRWMD and SJRWMD Board meetings, 2017-01-17 --Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson @ joint meeting about NFRWSP]](https://www.wwals.net/pictures/2027-01-17--stagger-srwmd-sjrwmd-board-meetings-merrillee-malwitz-jipson/fbmany.jpg)