Last modified Wed., September 06, 2006 - 04:36 PM
Originally created Thursday, September 7, 2006

NAS to expand wastewater reuse system

Goal is 'zero discharge' to St. Johns River

By Clark Pierce, Staff Writer

Which would you drink? Casey Cochran compares the clarity of treated wastewater with drinking water as he explains how NAS Jax is a leader in water resource management on the First Coast.

Naval Facilities Southeast Public Works Department (NAVFACSE PWD), in conjunction with the NAS Jax Environmental Department has applied for a $175,000 Defense Infrastructure Grant from the office of the Florida governor to design a treated wastewater management system that eliminates the station's discharge of effluent into the St. Johns River. Travis Zwenger, planner engineer with Navy Facilities Engineering Command Southeast Public Works Department, did all the research and put the application package together.

''Going for 'zero discharge' is great news for all First Coast residents. It will improve our quality of life by upgrading and protecting the quality of our water. And, overall, you'll see a greener NAS Jacksonville,'' said NAS Jax Water Program Manager Mike Wadel, P.E.

The project is part of the new 10-year, $742 million river cleanup and access plan announced by Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton in July. ''The River Accord: A Partnership for the St. Johns River'' calls for $200 million to upgrade wastewater treatment plants, $200 million to phase out 21,000 failing septic tanks, $150 million for storm water improvements, $42 million to improve access for river users and $150 million to pipe reclaimed water for irrigation.

Water towers (250,000 gallons each) help maintain consistent pressure in potable water lines.

''Research shows that the largest sources of nitrogen and phosphorus discharges into the lower St. Johns River are effluent from industrial and municipal wastewater treatment plants. The idea behind all these improvements is to reduce the amount of nitrogen and other nutrients going into the river where it causes periodic algal blooms which smothers plants and kills fish,'' explained Wadel. ''Instead of discharging into the river, our proposed wastewater reuse system will pipe effluent from the NAS Jax Wastewater Treatment Plant to irrigate the Casa Linda Oaks Golf Course, athletic fields, base housing areas and selected green spaces. This plan will result in a zero discharge to the lower St. Johns River.''

Jay Caddy, environmental engineer with NAVFACSE PWD, said that NAS Jackson-ville is on the leading edge of wastewater reuse. ''In 1998, we began diverting effluent for irrigation at the nearby Timuquana Country Club. Today, up to 25 percent of our discharge -10 million gallons per month - goes to irrigating their golf course.''

Caddy noted that achieving zero discharge into the river creates multiple benefits:

Eliminates more than 29,000 pounds of

Eliminates pumping of up to 77 million gallons annually from the Florida aquifer to irrigate the base golf course;

Eliminates use of potable water to irrigate sports fields and other green areas.

Public Works Department (PWD) Engineer Travis Zwenger (left) and NAS Jax Water Program Manager Mike Wadel, P.E. review the Defense Infrastructure Grant for the St. Johns River cleanup. The grant will assist PWD and the NAS Jax Environmental Department in diverting the passage of effulent into the river. Photo by MC2 Brian Smarr

''Casa Linda Lake, the source of irrigation for our golf course, is primarily fed by storm water. During periods of low rainfall, we're permitted to maintain the lake level by pumping water from the Floridian aquifer. Wastewater reuse is a better way to irrigate because it stops withdrawals from the aquifer,'' said Caddy.

''We've got a long way to go, but considering that we will have zero discharge going into the river, the project is definitely worth the cost. We will be eliminating a huge amount of nitrogen from going into the river each year. That means more wastewater will be used for irrigation and less drinking water will be used on lawns,'' added Wadel.

''It's that double benefit that made this all happen. We've got to do something to keep the water resources in our state healthy and this is a great start in repairing the damage to our river,'' he said.