Jacksonville, Florida, USA – In Construction Groundwater Augmentation – phased regional project
JEA is the utility provider for the greater Jacksonville, Florida, area. The sole source of drinking water is the Floridan aquifer and JEA is approaching the permitted withdrawal limit. Water conservation and reclaimed water for irrigation help to reduce drinking water demands, and both programs will be expanded to conserve additional water and sustain our natural resources.
However, to be able to meet the needs of the community, alternative water supply is needed. That is why JEA developed a 3-phase multi-decade approach to investigating water purification. Phase 1 consisted of side-by-side pilot testing of the two industry-leading purification processes. Piloting was also performed at two different water reclamation facilities with different water quality. Piloting resulted in JEA selecting membrane filtration, reverse osmosis and advanced oxidation for future phases of the program.
Phase 2 is the H2.0 Purification Center, which consists of 1 million gallons (3.7 million litres) per day capacity, an aquifer replenishment well, staff training and a visitor education center. Construction is anticipated to be completed in 2025.
Phase 3 is a planned implementation at multiple sites with an anticipated total capacity of approximately 20 million gallons (75 million litres) per day. The water will be used to replenish the Floridan aquifer, resulting in a corresponding increase in JEA’s permitted aquifer withdrawals as a drinking water supply. Water purification is the only option that not only provides a needed alternative water supply, but also helps JEA comply with Florida regulations requiring the elimination of treated wastewater effluent discharged to surface waters.