Increasing Reuse Supplies by Blending Nanofiltration Concentrate with Treated Effluent

The Loxahatchee River District and the Town of Jupiter in Palm Beach County, Florida developeda mutually beneficial plan whereby nanofiltration concentrate from the Town's new water treatment plant will be blended with treated effluent and used as reclaimed water for the District's service area. A modification to its wastewater treatment plant operating permit was obtained that allowed for the blending and land application of 3.0 mgd of nano-concentrate from Jupiter's new water treatment plant. To obtain the FDEP operating permit for this project, the District was required to demonstrate that the blend of concentrate with secondary effluent would not have a negative impact on the vegetation to which the irrigated water will be applied. Allowance for disposal of the concentrate/effluent blend down a deep injection well without a tubing and packer, which has heretofore been prohibited, was obtained from FDEP which set an important statewide precedence for Florida utilities.