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As the eighth largest public utility in the nation, the actions JEA takes have a profound impact on the growth and sustainability of Northeast Florida. As an integral member of our community, JEA joined the City of Jacksonville, the St. Johns River Water Management District, the Water and Sewer Expansion Authority and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection in the historic River Accord Partnership in July, 2006.
When JEA took over the City of Jacksonville’s water and sewer department in 1997, the utility began making improvements. At the time the River Accord was signed, JEA had already invested more than $2 billion in the city’s water and sewer systems to achieve fundamental environmental and operational improvements.
One year after the River Accord partners committed to invest a total of $700 million over 10 years, the progress and improvements to improve the health of the St. Johns River’s lower basin continued. Of that total, JEA’s contribution is $200 million over the 10 year period.
JEA has made significant improvements to its wastewater treatment facilities and increased its capacity for water reuse. Over the first year of the River Accord, JEA completed improvements on a regional wastewater treatment plant and continued construction and improvements to another facility, which will ultimately result in both locations achieving Advanced Nutrient Removal. These actions, along with continued operational improvements, have resulted in the removal of approximately 70 tons of nitrogen per year from the river.
JEA’s improvements to its reuse capacity have, to date, increased from 10 million gallons per day (mgd) to more than 17 mgd. JEA also began the process of implementing the same goal at a third facility, and decommissioned two of the six remaining old technology plants.
Additionally, JEA developed guidelines to assess area tributaries to the St. Johns River for recent impacts from human waste, and the city has continued its sampling efforts through the River Run program.
Read more about the River Accord’s first anniversary and progress toward the Accord goals.
More information on JEA’s improvements to the water and sewer treatment systems is available by clicking here.
More information on the River Accord and the program initiatives is available on the city’s website.
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