Mayor John Peyton was joined by Rep. Audrey Gibson and Council Member Mia Jones and representatives from the city’s Water Sewer Expansion Authority to discuss progress on septic tank phase out projects in Oakwood Villas and Lincoln Villas as part of The River Accord: A Partnership for the St. Johns. 

Together, the members of the River Accord have committed to invest $700 million during the next 10 years to improve the health of the St. Johns River’s lower basin – an area extending 2,750 square miles from Putnam County through Jacksonville to the Atlantic Ocean.

“The St. Johns River defines Jacksonville’s history, culture, economy, character, and, ultimately, its future. The river is a regional and national treasure, but years of neglect have caused its health to decline,” said Peyton. “With the support of the Duval Delegation and the state legislature we have made some recent strides in improving our river’s health.”

The members of the accord are working to improve water quality, monitor and reduce sedimentation and improve access to this tremendous natural resource, while measuring and tracking program accountability. The River Accord is committed to reducing the amount of nitrogen discharged into the river by:
• closing wastewater treatment plants
• improving other wastewater treatment plants and building pipelines necessary to reuse treated wastewater for irrigation of lawns, parks, and golf courses
• eliminating failing septic tanks; and
• capturing and treating stormwater before it enters the river.

A vital component of The River Accord will be to remedy the six septic tank nuisance areas and the 22 septic tank failure areas that harm the St. Johns by leaching dangerous fecal coliform bacteria into the river and its tributaries.  Failing septic tanks can also create unacceptable public health risks and inhibit private investment and economic development in affected areas.  The 22 septic tank failure areas – which have been designated by the Duval County Health Department – account for approximately 21,000 of the city's 85,000 septic tanks. The majority of the projects in the most sever areas – nuisance areas – were addressed with funding from the Better Jacksonville Project.

The group announced that construction has started on the final phase of the last remaining nuisance area located in the Oakwood Villas neighborhood.  With financial assistance from the state in the 2007/2008 budget, the $11.2 million project will install water and sewer hookups in the right-of-way, making it easier for residents to convert to city service.

In addition, the city and the WSEA announced that as a result of state funding, the group will begin eliminating septic tank failure areas.  Design work has started on the first project, which will be conducted in the Northside neighborhood of Lincoln Villas. Construction is expected to begin in the fall of this year. 

”I appreciate the work of the Duval Delegation and the state legislature to support this important initiative,” said Peyton.  “Jacksonville is fortunate to have strong champions who understand the importance of investments to improve and protect our city’s most valuable natural asset, the St. Johns River. Not only did the group help to secure the funding that allowed us to move forward on the projects we announced today, but they also worked to include funding for even more projects in the proposed 2008/2009 budget. I encourage the governor to support these additional projects and keep the forward momentum.”

More information on the River Accord and the program initiatives is available on the city’s Web site, www.coj.net.