Rain welcome, but JEA report shows water conservation needed
Tuesday’s severe storm brought much needed rain. At least one Mandarin neighborhood had trees fall; one car fell on a truck in Greenland Oaks, according to The Florida Times-Union.
Despite a couple of drenching storms this week, our area is still in the throes of a drought. JEA has issued a report about our water supply, including conservation tips and results of testing for various unappetizing substances. The good news is our water is safe.
Water conservation practices are recommended routinely. The Florida Times-Union asked readers if they’d turn in a neighbor for breaking the liquid Golden Rule: water lawns no more than two days a week, before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. Some readers would; others would not.
Months ago, Folio Weekly did a story on Jacksonville residents who use more than their share of water. Way more. Some of these individuals are high on whatever scale the upper crust uses to determine social ranking. The stats were amazing—many of the homes and pools had serious water leaks; the owners simply chose not to address them. The result, other than a whopping water bill, is a complete waste of a natural resource. FW content is not archived online, but that article was a real eye-opener.
The report that came in my mailbox Thursday is an accountability tool detailing the status of water pouring through 3,590 miles of water distribution mains ranging from two to 36 inches in diameter. Reports on testing of each grid are provided. You can learn answers to all sorts of exciting questions you didn’t know you had. Does my water contain above-average levels of arsenic? How about fecal coliform and E. coli? Where’d all that sodium come from?
In addition to test sample results, a variety of conservation tips are offered. You can even learn why our water often leaves spots on your drinking glasses and windows (spots are harmless).
JEA is our water utility. The St. Johns River Water Management District handles permits, resource maps and land acquisition to protect wetlands.
Jacksonville’s water source is the Floridian aquifer, one of the major sources of groundwater in the United States. If we’re smart, we’ll be good stewards. It’d be hard to do without water. (photos & text by Kay B. Day)
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