Conserve water and reduce wastewater discharges
You may not realize that the water you use in your home — in sinks, showers, toilets, clothes washers, dishwashers and more — may ultimately be discharged into the St. Johns River as treated wastewater.
This wastewater — partially treated sewage — is the largest contributor of nutrient pollution to the St. Johns River. And removing it from the river is among the District’s highest priorities.
Converting treated and disinfected sewage to reclaimed water provides a safe, environmentally responsible alternative to wastewater disposal. This means less waste will be discharged in area waterways, such as the St. Johns River, and makes reclaimed water available for reuse. When using reclaimed water for irrigation, it saves fresh, drinkable water for use in homes and businesses. It reduces the need to transport water from farther distances and postpones the need to develop new drinking water supplies.
Millions of dollars have been spent already to improve treatment facilities and other infrastructure in the lower basin to allow for and to expand reuse of treated wastewater. However, some projects are years away from implementation. And in some areas, building the infrastructure is prohibitively expensive.
Governments and utilities are working together to remove wastewater from the river and, instead, pipe it as reclaimed water to serve other purposes such as irrigation. It is possible for reclaimed water to contain enough nutrients to supply a large portion of a landscape’s fertilizer requirement.
What you can do
As with high-quality groundwater, reclaimed water supplies are limited. So even when using reclaimed water, it is important to practice conservation measures, such as planting water-efficient landscapes and irrigating appropriately.
You can also do your part by practicing water conservation indoors. By doing so, you are reducing the volume of wastewater that is sent to the river for disposal, which helps to improve the river’s health.