Final phase of the $4.2 million NAS Jacksonville Wastewater Reuse Project was inaugurated last week, reports Jax Air News.
The project will be completed next fall, resulting in the air station being the first major wastewater system in Northeast Florida to attain zero discharge of treated wastewater to the St. Johns River.
The first phase will execute pipeline installation from the reuse pond at the NAS Jacksonville Golf Club course, through the weapons area, to spray fields around the antenna farm in the southern area of the station.
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The project is expected to reduce 315 million gallons a year discharge into the St. Johns River in addition to 48 million gallons a year of withdrawal from the Floridan Aquifer.
It is expected to be completed through a long term State/City/Navy partnership, committed to improving the water quality of the St Johns River.
This is a prime example of partnerships focused on achieving a common goal. This final phase, ending with a spray field at the antenna farm, will achieve zero-discharge of wastewater into the St. Johns River, pointed out, captain, Roy Undersander, commanding officer, NAS Jacksonville.
It’s gratifying to see the enthusiasm people have for the river and how excited they are to see the progress of this multi-phase project. It is a proud matter that NAS Jax is leading the way to be a responsible environmental steward of the river, explained, Undersander.
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This groundbreaking represents another milestone in making the local military installations more efficient, cost effective, and a terrific example of environmental stewardship that is so important in community and state, added Guillory, said, retired rear admiral Victor Guillory, director, City of Jacksonville Military and Veterans Affairs Department.
NAS Jax has a history of reusing treated wastewater for irrigation. In 1997, the base and the Timuquana Country Club agreed to construct a 200,000-gallons-per-day treated wastewater reuse system for the club to irrigate its golf course.
In 2010, the station constructed an additional 300,000 gallons per day wastewater reuse system for its ball fields and the NAS Jax Golf Club course.
Sabeena Wahid
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