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Suwannee County hears Water First North Florida pitch as residents raise water-quality and local-control concerns
Summary
Suwannee County commissioners heard a presentation Feb. 17 from the Suwannee River Water Management District on the Water First North Florida reclaimed-water aquifer-recharge project, which would deliver about 40 million gallons per day and is still in early siting and design. Dozens of residents pressed officials about contaminants, PFAS, nitrate limits and whether counties have any formal vote on the state-led plan.
Troy Roberts, communications office chief for the Suwannee River Water Management District, told the Suwannee County Board of County Commissioners on Feb. 17 that the Water First North Florida project would deliver about 40,000,000 gallons per day of highly treated reclaimed water, routed through treatment wetlands and used for aquifer recharge to help restore flows in the Lower Santa Fe and Ichetucknee rivers.
"Reclaimed water has to meet higher standards than typical wastewater does," Roberts said, adding that the St. Johns River Water Management District, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and utilities including JEA are project partners. He said the initiative is in an early study phase, estimated to require roughly 13 years before water would be returned to the aquifer, and estimated the total cost at about $1,000,000,000 with pledges including $400,000,000 from JEA and about $125,000,000 from St. Johns River WMD.
The presentation and subsequent public comment…
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