JEA outlines regional 'Water First North Florida' plan to move 40 million gallons daily for aquifer recharge

Rob Zamataro, chief operating officer for water at JEA, told the Jacksonville Transportation, Energy and Utilities Committee on Feb. 3 that a regional program called Water First North Florida aims to treat reclaimed wastewater, filter it through constructed wetlands and route it to recharge locations to restore aquifer levels and spring and river flows.

"This project will use reclaimed water that will be highly treated at a water reclamation facility before being filtered in a wetland to further clean the water," Zamataro said. He described the idea as a region‑wide response to legislative drivers including Senate Bill 64 and emerging minimum flows and levels rules that threaten access to groundwater in North Florida.

The project concept would repurpose roughly 40 million gallons per day (MGD) that now discharges to tide and move it west to areas where the confining clay layer thins and surface recharge can meaningfully augment the drinking‑water aquifer. Zamataro said the project team is considering a treatment wetland on the order of 2,000–3,000 acres and identified the Peterson Tract west of Cecil Field as a potential Jacksonville land parcel; any city property needed would require separate legislation.

Zamataro said the concept is still in the feasibility phase. "We went through a preliminary evaluation of all these different concepts. This one rose to the top," he said, estimating the program would be a generational, 10‑ to 15‑year effort if it advances through feasibility and design.

Funding and governance remain to be finalized. Zamataro said partners cost‑shared the initial study, which totaled roughly $100,000–$150,000. He estimated the full project at about $1 billion; the St. Johns River Water Management District has pledged $125 million, the governor's budget included a $35 million allocation, and JEA's board adopted a resolution to participate with about $400 million over the life of the project. He said governance and detailed cost participation will be driven by the water management district.

Committee members asked about sources, safety and public trust. Councilmember Matt Carlucci confirmed the reclaimed supply would come from local treatment plants, primarily the Buckman and Southwest facilities; Zamataro said those plants are primary sources and emphasized regulatory oversight and public education. "We've been supplying safe drinking water for over 100 years," he said, adding that strict state and federal rules and licensed operators govern treatment.

Councilwoman Clark Murray pressed whether legislation would be needed to use the Peterson Tract. Zamataro responded that JEA owns much of the tract and the current land use could support wetlands, but that any city‑owned conservation parcels required for the project would prompt legislation to enable construction.

Zamataro cited comparable projects — the Sweetwater Wetlands in Alachua County and the Black Creek Water Resource Development Project in Clay County — as models for how constructed wetlands can both improve aquifer recharge and create recreational opportunities.

The Water First video shown to the committee stated the project could provide over 40,000,000 gallons per day of reclaimed water for recharge and work in conjunction with conservation to support the hydrology of the Lower Santa Fe and Ichetucknee rivers and springs.

Zamataro said the county currently uses about 125 MGD for drinking water; roughly 80% returns through treatment and about 40 MGD currently goes to tide — the volume the project aims to repurpose.

Next steps: the water management district has hired an engineering firm to complete feasibility and preliminary design; if feasibility requirements are met the project would move into design. No formal city legislation was requested at the meeting for the Peterson Tract, and Zamataro said the project team will return with further details as scope, costs and governance are refined.