JEA another step closer to completing Reclaimed Purified Water project

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — At the Prime F. Osborn Convention Center on Friday morning, JEA showcased the proposed pilot for its Reclaimed Purified Water project.

For the first time, it revealed the purified water that was produced by the technology in the program.

“We’re taking highly concentrated wastewater, putting it through advanced treatment systems,” Tom Bartol, of JEA, said. “Actually, the water is so pure that, to drink it, we actually buffered a little and added things to it.”

Bartol is the manager for JEA’s water and wastewater permitting. The water, wastewater and reuse departments have worked with the company’s environmental services department to create this project. He said it is in its very early stages.

RELATED STORY: An inside look at how JEA is making reclaimed water safe to drink

He said the technology evaluation project, which is testing different models of technologies to purify the wastewater, is complete.

Now, the project is in the testing phase, and created a product that received positive feedback from customers Monday.

“It was nice and chilled," customer Elvia Williams said. “It tastes a little, maybe a little chlorine, but I couldn't tell any difference, just a little aftertaste.”

“It was cold, crisp,” Jasen Hutchinson said. “It was good water.”

But the proposal of taking wastewater and reclaiming it into drinking water has raised concerns with some JEA customers.

“It sounds gross but maybe they know what they’re doing," customer Susannah Williams said.

“Public health and safety is the most important element to this project,” Bartol said. “It’s being done otherwise. We’re going through a lot of testing and processing to ensure that this water is safe.”

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Bartol said the purpose of the project is to create a large enough supply to service the entire Jacksonville area.

If needed, this would serve as backup supply for residents in need of water during a natural disaster when the water supply was limited.

“The need for this water is that our water comes from the aquifer below us, and that aquifer is not unlimited,” Bartol said. “We want to make sure, for our system and the community, we have a sustainable water supply.”

JEA told Action News Jax it has invested $2.3 million into this project, with a nearly $1 million donation from the St. Johns River Water Management District.

Bartol said JEA expects the project to be complete in 10 to 15 years.

RELATED STORY: JEA missed water testing for thousands of customers

JEA turning sewage water into drinking water JEA turning sewage water into drinking water

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