Tag Archives: Jacksonville FL

SRWMD has no comment on WFNF alleged cancellation 2026-05-15

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If it was really cancelled, you’d think SRWMD, SJRWMD, and JEA would say so, and announce they have cancelled any outstanding contracts, such as the one SJRWMD let on November 12, 2025, for $2.17 million for a consultant to study WFNF for three years.

Instead, we’ve heard nothing from JEA or SJRWMD, and the Executive Director of the Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD) has no comment.

For much more about WFNF, including which Suwannee District counties oppose it (all 12 of them) and which have passed their own letters or resolutions of opposition (7 of them), as well as who you can contact, see:

https://wwals.net/issues/wfnf

[SRWMD has no comment on WFNF alleged cancellation; Nothing from JEA or SJRWMD or FDEP 2026-05-19]
SRWMD has no comment on WFNF alleged cancellation; Nothing from JEA or SJRWMD or FDEP 2026-05-19

Stew Lilker, Columbia County Observer, May 15, 2026, Water First North Florida: The $1.1 Billion Project That No One Likes, Except Insiders, Is on the Ropes
Where is it now and how did it get there?

Continue reading →

Datacenters and wastewater pipeline speakers at WWALS River Revue 2026-09-12

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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]
Speakers, WWALS River Revue, September 12, 2026, Amy Sharma on Datacenters, Rick Davis on WFNF

Continue reading →

Floridan Aquifer Groundwater Pumping –Dr. Bob Knight 2026-05-09

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Published with permission, here is what Dr. Bob Knight ferreted out from USGS and the WMDs about groundwater pumping.

You’d think they would publish this information, but since they didn’t, WWALS is.

These slides (PowerPoint or PDF) don’t say anything about Water First North Florida (WFNF), the WMD and JEA plan to pipe treated wastewater from Jacksonville into the Suwannee Basin, but this is the groundwater background to WFNF.

https://wwals.net/issues/wfnf

[Floridan Aquifer Groundwater Pumping Is Getting Worse --Dr. Bob Knight 2026-05-09]
Floridan Aquifer Groundwater Pumping Is Getting Worse –Dr. Bob Knight 2026-05-09

He sent these slides to various environmentalists on May 9, 2026, with this note. I asked him later in person if he minded WWALS publishing. He said go ahead.

All

Attached is an updated summary of Florida groundwater wells, permits, and reported extraction quantities from the Floridan aquifer. All data were provided by the water management districts and the USGS. But the summaries of those reams of data are my work and may not be complete and accurate in all cases. Surprisingly, the WMDs have differing data bases and few detailed summaries of these data. For now, I believe these may be the best data summaries out there. Historically (up to 2015) Richard Marella formerly with USGS reported a lot of Floridan aquifer detailed/summary data every five years. That important contribution ended in 2015 and there is no sign that it will be picked back up by the state or the USGS.

The inconvenient truth is that all groundwater extractions reduce spring flows and that data analysis indicates that the ratio is almost one to one. Measured spring flow reductions closely mirror these reported pumping totals and differ widely from groundwater flow model estimates.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Best wishes,

Bob

Continue reading →

More about WFNF funding in how it got ratified by sleight of bill 2026-02-25

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Update 2026-05-19: SRWMD has no comment on WFNF alleged cancellation 2026-05-15.

Vigilance, please!

Yesterday, Tuesday, May 12, 2026, we heard from Florida State Senator Corey Simon that “the Water First North Florida project is being canceled in its current form.”

That’s good news, as far as it goes. And it wouldn’t have happened without all of you who have opposed it.

But it ain’t over ’til the fat lady sings, and the SRWMD Governing Board said nothing about this that same morning. I was there and spoke against WFNF along with about half a dozen other people.

Nor have any of SRWMD, SJRWMD, or JEA said anything since that I’ve seen. And what happened yesterday did nothing to repeal huge financial support for WFNF by JEA and SJRWMD.

So please don’t stop now. Keep on speaking to cities, counties, the state, members of Congress, and the unelected boards that are pushing WFNF: SRWMD, SJRWMD, JEA, plus the Jacksonville City Council.

For much more about WFNF, see:

https://wwals.net/issues/wfnf

[More about WFNF funding in how it got ratified by sleight of bill, SB 7034 into HB 1417]
More about WFNF funding in how it got ratified by sleight of bill, SB 7034 into HB 1417

We also heard yesterday from Florida State Representative Chuck Brannan that: Continue reading →

WFNF Canceled? 2026-05-12

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Update 2026-05-13: More about WFNF funding in how it got ratified by sleight of bill 2026-02-25.

Florida State Senator Corey Simon posted this letter on his facebook page about 1 PM today, Tuesday, May 12, 2026. The Madison County Florida Board of County Commissioners also posted it.

[WFNF is being canceled 2026-05-12, FL State Senator Corey Simon; What does this mean: in its current form?]
WFNF is being canceled 2026-05-12, FL State Senator Corey Simon; What does this mean: in its current form?

Well, I hope that formerly “done deal” is undone.

A catch: a single state Senator does not have the power to undo it.

Another catch: nothing was said about this at the SRWMD Governing Board meeting this morning.

And a third: “the Water First North Florida project is being canceled in its current form.”

Does that mean some parts of it are canceled? Which parts? For example, is SJRWMD cancelling its three-year consultant contract involving wetland siting and pipeline routing?

So, cautious optimism.

And many thanks to Senator Corey Simon, who has long made it clear he opposes WFNF, for example at the SRWMD and SJRWMD dog and pony show at UF IFAS on March 19.

But I will be making some inquiries with SRWMD, SJRWMD, JEA, and Sen. Simon’s offfice.

SENATOR COREY SIMON
3rd District

May 12, 2026

Subject: Update on the Water First North Florida Project

Dear Neighbor,

I want to provide you with an important update regarding the Water First North Florida Project.

After careful review and continued conversations with local leaders, water experts, property owners, and concerned citizens across North Florida, the Water First North Florida project is being canceled in its current form. While the need to address low water levels in our aquifer remains very real, it has become clear that this proposal is not the right path forward for our communities at this time.

Protecting North Florida’s water supply is one of the most important Continue reading →

Two moratoriums: detention centers and WFNF –Hailey Hall to Alachua BOCC 2026-05-05

The Alachua County BOCC meets this morning, May 5, 2026, at 10 AM, County Administration Building – Grace Knight Conference Room 12 SE 1 Street, 2nd Floor, Gainesville, FL 32601.

There is nothing on their agenda about either of the moratoria that Hailey Hall requested on April 28, 2026, after their last meeting:

[Two moratoriums: detention centers and WFNF --Hailey Hall to Alachua BOCC, 2026-04-28]
Two moratoriums: detention centers and WFNF –Hailey Hall to Alachua BOCC, 2026-04-28

Hello Commissioners,

Thank you for your efforts and for allowing everyone to speak today at the meeting.

I am requesting that you enact two separate moratoriums.

  1. A moratorium prohibiting construction of new, non-municipal detention centers as Kansas City has done.
  2. A moratorium against further development and construction of the Water First North Florida pipeline project.

Please see the attached ordinance from Kansas City and resolution from Town of Branford.

Thank you and take care,

Hailey Hall

You’ve already seen the Branford resolution.

https://wwals.net/?p=69710

Here is the Kansas City ordinance: Continue reading →

The promoters bear the burden of proof –WWALS to Alachua BOCC 2026-04-20

There is nothing about Water First North Florida (WFNF) on the Alachua County BOCC agenda for this morning, May 5, 2026, at 10 AM, County Administration Building – Grace Knight Conference Room 12 SE 1 Street, 2nd Floor, Gainesville, FL 32601.

But there is Public Comment near the end. And you can watch on facebook, YouTube, or Alachua County’s Video on Demand.

For much more about WFNF, see:

https://wwals.net/issues/wfnf

Here is what I sent the Alachua BOCC on April 20, 2026. Continue reading →

Refilling the aquifer with wastewater is a problem –Tana Silva 2026-04-19

Like Tana Silva, you can write a letter to the editor of your local, state, or national newspaper, or ask your local radio or TV station to interview you, or post on social media.

Better yet, call or write your elected and appointed officials, and sign the petition:

https://wwals.net/issues/wfnf

Tana Silva, Alachua Chronicle, April 19, 2026, Letter: Refilling the aquifer with wastewater is a problem, not a solution
https://alachuachronicle.com/letter-refilling-the-aquifer-with-wastewater-is-a-problem-not-a-solution/

April 19, 2026

Letter to the editor

[Refilling the aquifer with wastewater is a problem (WFNF) --Tana Silva 2026-04-19]
Refilling the aquifer with wastewater is a problem (WFNF) –Tana Silva 2026-04-19

Until the 1970s, Jacksonville pumped sewage straight into the St. Johns River and allowed dumping industrial waste there as well. The mayor elected in 1967, local advocates, and the Clean Water Act of 1972 helped to at least send wastewater to treatment plants before releasing it to the river. That practice, too, is restricted by state law now, but raising springwater levels through recharging projects is another goal in state law that opens a path to reusing wastewater, a risky and irreversible choice.

Jacksonville, the largest city, water consumer, and wastewater producer in northern Florida, is again looking to offload its wastewater, this time far to the west, in rural springs country.

Local residents and governments and the 12-county regional planning council that includes Alachua County say no: Continue reading →

WFNF on Jacksonville TV 2026-04-22

This is probably the first most people in the Jacksonville area have heard of Water First North Florida (WFNF).

It’s great that the SRWMD and SJRWMD Executive Directors consider clean water a personal issue. They’re still pushing an overly complex, expensive, and risky 60+-mile pipeline for treated wastewater from Jacksonville into the Suwannee Basin.

There are less expensive, fast-to-build, less risky, and more scalable solutions.

https://wwals.net/?p=70046

For more about WFNF, including who you can contact and a petition, see:

https://wwals.net/issues/wfnf

[WFNF on Jacksonville TV, Andrea Snody, News4JAX 2026-04-22, Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman, Hugh Thomas, SRWMD, Mike Register, SJRWMD]
WFNF on Jacksonville TV, Andrea Snody, News4JAX 2026-04-22, Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman, Hugh Thomas, SRWMD, Mike Register, SJRWMD

Andrea Snody, News4JAX, April 22, 2026, Jacksonville wastewater plan could reshape North Florida water supply, Continue reading →

San Diego Carlsbad Desalination Plant may sell water to Arizona, Nevada, or Utah 2026-04-17

An old seawater desalination plant in California wants to make a deal with Nevada, Arizona, or Utah to replace water no longer coming from the Colorado River.

That seems relevant to the Suwannee River Basin’s diminishing Floridan Aquifer water supply. Jacksonville has the Atlantic Ocean next door. Let it desalinate and stop pumping so much groundwater.

Also, if western states can do this, so can Jacksonville:

In addition to desalination, some states are considering recycling wastewater. In 2021, Arizona and Nevada each invested $6 million in a water recycling initiative that is in the final stages. The project, Pure Water Southern California, could eventually convert enough sewage into purified drinking water to supply 500,000 homes.

Both seawater desalination and potable reuse make much more sense than the JEA, SJRWMD, and SRWMD plan to pipe treated Jacksonville wastewater 60+ miles west into the Suwannee Basin. For more about Water First North Florida (WFNF), see:

https://wwals.net/issues/wfnf

San Diego’s Carlsbad Desalination Plant opened in 2015, so it’s more than a decade old. It cost about a billion dollars and produces about 50 million gallons a day (mgd) of drinking water.

For half a dozen bigger, less expensive seawater desalination plants around the world, see, NAQA’A Desalination Plant in Umm Al Quwain, U.A.E. 2019-07-09.

[Old San Diego Carlsbad Desalination Plant may sell water to Arizona, Nevada, or Utah 2026-04-17]
Old San Diego Carlsbad Desalination Plant may sell water to Arizona, Nevada, or Utah 2026-04-17

Scott Dance, The New York Times, April 17, 2026, Western States Need Water. San Diego Has Extra. Will They Make A Deal?
San Diego County is shopping a surplus of desalinated seawater to Western states that are facing increasingly urgent drought and short supplies.

As most Western communities expect to grapple with water shortages this summer and fall, one is looking to share its unlikely surplus. Continue reading →