Tag Archives: St. Johns River Water Management District

WFNF approved as part of NFRWSP –SRWMD 2025-11-12

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Here is what the SRWMD Board approved on November 12, 2025, regarding Water First North Florida (WFNF).

Please note three things.

  1. Although I’ve heard some people say the SRWMD Board only approved studies of the feasibilty of the plan, not WFNF itself, nothing in the agenda or the memorandum says that. Nothing in the minutes, either.
  2. These SRWMD materials are similar to those for the SJRWMD Board meeting of the same day, but they do not include an Order approving any of this, they say nothing about hiring a consultant, and they do not include the related RFQ (Request for Qualifications) for the consultant.
  3. Neither WFNF nor its long name appears in the SRWMD agenda item nor the staff memorandum on what the board was to approve. In the agenda, this item is:
    “WR Page 1 26. 2025 Implementation Strategy for the Lower Santa Fe and Ichetucknee Rivers and Priority Springs”

    Water First North Florida first appears in the Table of Contents of the “2025 Implementation Strategy for the Lower Santa Fe and Ichetucknee Rivers and Priority Springs” for its page 12.

[WFNF approved as part of NFRWSP by SRWMD, November 12, 2025]
WFNF approved as part of NFRWSP by SRWMD, November 12, 2025

On page 69 of the SRWMD board packet for November 12, 2026:

SUWANNEE RIVER WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT
MEMORANDUM

TO: Governing Board

FROM: Amy Brown, Deputy Executive Director, Water Resources

THRU: Hugh Thomas, Executive Director

DATE: October 30, 2025

RE: 2025 Implementation Strategy for the Lower Santa Fe and Ichetucknee Rivers and Priority Springs

RECOMMENDATION
District staff recommend the following Lower Santa Fe and Ichetucknee Rivers related actions:

  1. Approve the 2025 Implementation Strategy for the Lower Santa Fe and Ichetucknee Rivers and Priority Springs (LSFIR) Minimum Flows and Levels (MFLs) (hereafter the 2025 Implementation Strategy); and
  2. Approve an Addendum to the 2014 Recovery Strategy for the Lower Santa Fe and Ichetucknee Rivers and Priority Springs Minimum Flows and Levels (hereafter the 2014 Recovery Strategy) to include the water supply development, water resource development, and water conservation projects identified in the 2025 Implementation Strategy; and
  3. Approve an Addendum to the 2023 North Florida Regional Water Supply Plan (hereafter the First Addendum to the 2023 NFRWSP), to include the water supply development, water resource development, and water conservation projects identified in the 2025 Implementation Strategy.

BACKGROUND Continue reading →

Replace WFNF with desalination and rehydration of SJRWMD wetlands –Ken Sulak 2026-04-02

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Ken Sulak sent this food for thought about Water First North Florida (WFNF). I’ve added a few links.

Synopsis of JEA twofold water problem & potential rational solutions to be considered in lieu of WFNF:

Maintext:

  1. Provide sufficient freshwater to meet 120-160 MGPD demands of urban area of 1.6 million population,
  2. solve the need to treat and discharge 40-50 MGPD of sewage wastewater as per beneficial use requirements of 2021 Senate Bill 64.

Subtext:

  1. Do something wise and cost effective in the context of volume and flow restoration to offset the current JEA ~120 MGPD withdrawal of Floridian Aquifer groundwater from the Suwannee River basin. Note that 40 MGPD return does little to truly offset the ~120 MGPD current withdrawal rate. Also, after evaporative and transpiration losses in the created marshes, the real volume that would be returned to the subterranean aquifer would be more like 35 MGPD.
  2. Simultaneously do something equally wise and appropriate and compliant with SB 64 – using JEA Buckman plant treated effluent for created marsh depuration and discharge locally within the St. Johns WMD, which has its own longstanding serious aquatic recharge needs due to JEA withdrawals lowering the water table within district.

    [Replace WFNF with desalination and rehydration of SJRWMD wetlands --Ken Sulak 2026-04-02]
    Replace WFNF with desalination and rehydration of SJRWMD wetlands –Ken Sulak 2026-04-02

A logical cost-effective solution to 1A: construct a 150-200 MGPD desalination plant on the lower St. Johns River—at cost of comparative modern reverse osmosis plants elsewhere in the world ~$1.0-1.5 billion (close to the probably underestimated construction cost of the WFMF 90 mile pipeline). Pipeline operation and Continue reading →

NAQA’A Desalination Plant in Umm Al Quwain, U.A.E. 2019-07-09

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Update 2026-03-26: Added more examples and a table.

WFNF is five times more expensive per million gallons per day than a modern Middle East seawater desalination plant. And twice as expensive as more expensive than an Australian one. Plus taking more than twice as long to build.

WFNF does nothing to reduce Jacksonville’s groundwater withdrawals. Seawater desalination could eliminate them.

And brine disposal is not just a problem: it’s an opportunity to extract minerals for profit.

For much more about WFNF, see:

https://wwals.net/issues/wfnf

Five years ago in Arab News, July 9, 2019, UAE to build $900m desalination plant with Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power,

“Plant in Umm Al-Quwain will produce 150 million gallons of water per day”

[NAQA’A Desalination Plant, Umm Al Quwain, U.A.E., 150 mgd potable water, $0.82 billion U.S.D.]
NAQA’A Desalination Plant, Umm Al Quwain, U.A.E., 150 mgd potable water, $0.82 billion U.S.D.

Now, in 2026, It’s operational: NAQA’A Desalination Plant in Umm Al Quwain. Continue reading →

Madison County calls for a moratorium on WFNF 2026-03-25

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Update 2026-03-26: “Good afternoon! During their regular meeting last night, the Madison County Board of County Commissioners approved the attached Resolution to express their opposition to the Water First North Florida pipeline project. We appreciate your service to rural communities and your continued support of Madison County.” —Madison County Manager Sherilyn Pickels

Update 2026-03-25: NAQA’A Desalination Plant in Umm Al Quwain, U.A.E. 2019-07-09.

On its agenda for tomorrow evening, Madison County will call for a moratorium on Water First North Florida (WFNF), the plan to pipe treated wastewater from Jacksonville into the Suwannee River Basin.

For much more about WFNF, see:

https://wwals.net/issues/wfnf

[Madison County calls for a moratorium on Water First North Florida, 2026-03-25]
Madison County calls for a moratorium on Water First North Florida, 2026-03-25

Received from Rick Davis this afternoon, “Here is a link for the Resolution from Madison County to be considered at our March 25 Commission meeting at 6pm.”

https://madisoncountyfl.community.diligentoneplatform.com/document/378b10b9-874b-4072-b297-088c2e4a46e2

RESOLUTION NO. 2026-03-25

A RESOLUTION OF THE MADISON COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IN MADISON, FLORIDA, OPPOSING THE FIRST NORTH FLORIDA (WENF) PIPELINE PROJECT AS CURRENTLY PROPOSED; REQUESTING AN IMMEDIATE MORATORIUM PENDING INDEPENDENT STUDY; AND DIRECTING TRANSMITTAL TO STATE OFFICIALS

WHEREAS, Continue reading →

Pictures: SRWMD WFNF Open House, UF IFAS, Live Oak, FL 2026-03-19

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Update 2026-03-25: NAQA’A Desalination Plant in Umm Al Quwain, U.A.E. 2019-07-09.

Many people were disappointed in the informational tables about Water First North Florida (WFNF), the plan to pipe treated wastewater from Jacksonville into the Suwannee River Basin.

For much more about WFNF, see

https://wwals.net/issues/wfnf

[Pictures: SRWMD WFNF, Open House, UF IFAS, Live Oak, FL, Thursday, March 19, 2026]
Pictures: SRWMD WFNF, Open House, UF IFAS, Live Oak, FL, Thursday, March 19, 2026

WCTV’s subhead is incorrect about the Community Open House by SRWMD, 6-8 PM, Thursday, March 19, 2026, at UF-IFAS in Live Oak, Florida:

“This project wouldn’t happen until 2039”

According to their own schedule, many parts of WFNF are already happening, such as the three-year consultant wetland pilot study and siting study funded by SJRWMD in November 2025. The first pipes would start going in in 2028: “Transmission Mains to Wetland.” Pipes to recharge facilities, i.e., those in the Suwannee Basin, would start going in in 2032. It’s only the final complete turn on of the entire project that might not start until 2039. Continue reading →

NCFRPC against WFNF 2026-03-26

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Update 2026-03-26: Yes, they passed the resolution.

The NCFRPC will take up its own resolution against the WFNF project to pipe treated wastewater from Jacksonville into the Suwannee Basin.

For all the other local and regional government resolutions and letters and more, see:

https://wwals.net/issues/wfnf

[NCFRPC against WFNF, Thursday, March 26, 2026, After its Task Force, Against treated wastewater from JAX]
NCFRPC against WFNF, Thursday, March 26, 2026, After its Task Force, Against treated wastewater from JAX

There will be a meeting of the North Central Florida Regional Planning Council on March 26, 2026. The meeting will be held as a hybrid meeting in-person at the Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites, Suwannee Room, 213 Southwest Commerce Boulevard, Lake City, Florida, and via Communications Media Technology at 7:00 p.m.

To join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone:

https://meet.goto.com/193371933

DIAL IN NUMBER: Toll Free: 1.866.899.4679

ACCESS CODE: 193 371 933

MEETING STARTS AT 7:00 P.M.

Please email koons@ncfrpc.org by March 25, 2026 to let us know if you will be attending the meeting in-person or via communications media technology. THANK YOU.

Of particular interest:

VIII. A. Executive Committee –

1. Water First North Florida Aquifer Recharge Project Resolution No. 2026-14

…

VIII. C. Middle and Lower Suwannee River and Withlacoochee River Task Force Update

Before we get to that, in the Minutes from January 26, 2026:

PUBLIC COMMENTS –

Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson discussed the Water First North Florida Project Continue reading →

WFNF Update, an interactive WWALS Webinar 2026-03-25

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A more interactive than usual WWALS Webinar update about what happened in the previous week’s meetings on Water First North Florida (WFNF), the plan to pipe treated wastewater from Jacksonville into the Suwannee River Basin.

https://wwals.net/issues/wfnf

Hailey Hall will give a brief rundown.

Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman will expand, especially on modern desalination examples.

Then we will keep it casual and conversational. We will field and pose questions, and “popcorn share”. We will call on various people if they are present, and others can chime in.

When: 6 PM, Wednesday, March 25, 2026

Put In: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/zDdB5oQARxeUvH8U7ypW4A

[WFNF Update, an interactive WWALS Webinar, Online by zoom, 6 PM, Wednesday, March 25, 2026]
WFNF Update, an interactive WWALS Webinar, Online by zoom, 6 PM, Wednesday, March 25, 2026

Continue reading →

Madison County against WFNF 2026-02-27

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Madison County was the first elected body to oppose #WFNF.

This is the letter posted by Madison County Commissioner Donnie Waldrep Sr. on February 27, 2026.

For all such letters and resolutions and more, see:

https://wwals.net/issues/wfnf

[Madison County against Water First North Florida 2026-02-27, #WFNF: JAX treated wastewater into Suwannee Basin]
Madison County against Water First North Florida 2026-02-27, #WFNF: JAX treated wastewater into Suwannee Basin

Suwannee River Water Management District
9225 CR 49
Live Oak, Florida 32060

Subject: Opposition to the Water First North Florida Project

To Whom It May Concern,

The Madison Board of County Commissioners respectfully submits this letter to express our formal opposition to the proposed Water First North Florida project. After reviewing available project materials, we believe the project poses potential risks to the longterm welfare of our county and the surrounding region.

Key concerns include: Continue reading →

Town of Branford Resolution against WFNF 2026-03-01

Branford is at the mouth of the Santa Fe River, and downstream of the Ichetucknee River, both of which Water First North Florida (#WFNF) purport to help.

For more about WFNF, including the other local and regional government opposition, see:

https://wwals.net/issues/wfnf

[Town of Branford, Resolution against WFNF 2026-03-01, Water First North Florida, JAX treated wastewater]
Town of Branford, Resolution against WFNF 2026-03-01, Water First North Florida, JAX treated wastewater

RESOLUTION NO. 2026-003

A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF BRANFORD, FLORIDA, OPPOSING THE FIRST NORTH FLORIDA (WENF) PIPELINE PROJECT AS CURRENTLY PROPOSED; REQUESTING AN IMMEDIATE MORATORIUM PENDING INDEPENDENT STUDY; AND DIRECTING TRANSMITTAL TO STATE OFFICIALS

WHEREAS, the St. Johns River Water Management District and the Suwannee River Water Management District approved elements of the Water First North Florida (WFNF) project in November 2025, which includes a proposed approximately 90-mile pipeline to transport highly treated reclaimed water from facilities in the Jacksonville metropolitan area to wetlands within the Suwannee River Basin for purposes of aquifer recharge; and

WHEREAS, the project is estimated to cost between $1.0 and $1.1 billion, including approximately $400 million in funding from JEA, and proposes to recharge the Floridan Aquifer with more than 40 million gallons per day; and Continue reading →

How WFNF was chosen and desalination was rejected –SRWMD 2025-01-01

This document appears to show the process by which SRWMD, SJRWMD, FDEP, JEA, and three other water utilities decided on Water First North Florida (WFNF), their plan to pipe treated wastewater from Jacksonville into the Suwannee River Basin.

Thanks to Amy Brown, SRWMD Deputy Executive Director, Water Resources, for sending this document.

A copy of the document is on the WWALS website, and images of each page are below.

The discussion below is my opinion and nobody at SRWMD is responsible for it.

[How WFNF was chosen and desalination was rejected, SRWMD, SJRWD, JEA, FDEP, et al., January 2025]
How WFNF was chosen and desalination was rejected, SRWMD, SJRWD, JEA, FDEP, et al., January 2025

Notably missing from the options that were considered is wells at wetlands below planted pine plantations, as proposed by Dennis J. Price, PG, back in 2016. No reason is given for why.

Page 34 has a summary of why desalination was rejected:

Desalination (for comparative reference- not recommended for further study): Several desalination alternatives were considered in the evaluation. Desalination at Coquina would desalinate ocean water from the east coast in the Jacksonville area and pump it to the conceptual recharge area. Desalination at the Gulf Coast would desalinate water from a location on the west coast and pump it to the recharge area. The Pumping Replacement alternative would desalinate saltwater from the Jacksonville area and replace groundwater as a water supply for all four participating utilities. The desalination alternatives are not recommended for further evaluation because of:
1) High capital and operation and maintenance cost, partly due to the treatment process itself, and partly due to the high cost of brine disposal,
2) Managing brine disposal incurs significant technical and regulatory challenges,
3) Replacement of all four participating utility groundwater pumping with desalinated seawater would not meet the full MFL requirements, and
4) Ocean desalination does not address the requirements of Senate Bill 64 to put reclaimed water to beneficial use.

Let’s address each of those four points: Continue reading →