Water First North Florida (WFNF) is a water management proposed plan that appears to have sprung from the 2023 North Florida Regional Water Supply Plan. This plan brought together two water management districts to assess the water supply planning requirements set forth by Florida Statute (373.069.) 

The available data for the Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD) indicates that we need to find ways to recharge the aquifer in order to meet our future water needs and meet the Minimum Flow Standards (MFL) on the Lower Santa Fe River and Ichetucknee Rivers. Conversely, the St. Johns Water Management District (SJWMD), through its 120-180 mgd consumption in Jacksonville, has a wastewater problem. JEA has been pumping their treated wastewater out to the sea as is now facing SB 64 which states that treated wastewater can't continue going into rivers unless it's drinking water quality. But wait, there is a loophole: water fed into wetlands or sinks will not have to meet drinking water standards. This is Water First North Florida plan in a nutshell: the SJWMD draws clean water from the aquifer and sends their ‘treated’ wastewater, not drinking water quality, into wetlands to replenish the already impaired Outstanding Florida Springs. 

WFNF insists that they will not be piping wastewater into wetlands. Though wetlands are effective in removing nitrates through plant uptake, they do not have the capacity of removing some heavy metals, PFASs, hormones, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, disinfectants, and microplastics. These products, present in urban wastewater, would compound the already present nitrates and other toxins in our aquifer, rivers and Outstanding Florida Springs, impacting both wildlife and human health. 

The addition of even reduced nitrates from the Jacksonville area would also adversely affect already high levels of nitrates. The effects of additional heavy metals, PFASs, hormones, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, disinfectants, and microplastics would add injury to wildlife and humans alike. 

The one positive effect from the discussions WFNF has ignited is that more people are becoming aware of nitrates, PFAS, and other toxins in our waters. As was pointed out by a SRWMD official, we already have these toxins in our wastestream. Yes, we do, and we really need to eliminate these, not add more.