JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The city of Jacksonville working to replace old septic tank systems that can cause environmental issues.
News4JAX went to several neighborhoods on Thursday where the city is doing work and found out where it plans to start work soon.
Palmdale near Lem Turner is one of the areas where crews are currently working on a septic tank replacement. The city said there might be delays, but the plan is moving ahead.
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Installing sewer lines and hooking up homes to the septic system has been underway for several years. The city said it’s taking time to get owners to agree to allow septic tanks to be replaced. In the Riverview area, the city is now working to get people to agree to the program.
There was a meeting set with homeowners on Thursday at the Riverview Community Center to answer questions.
Linda Turner said she is excited about the program because she lives right on the Ribault River and has always been worried about the contamination that can happen with septic tanks.
“I think it’s wonderful. I think they should have done it way before they did some of the other neighborhoods because we’re on the river,” Turner said.
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The city and JEA said design work on the sewer plan in the Riverview neighborhood will begin next year and work could start in 2027. But crews have been doing work in other nearby neighborhoods like Beverly Hills where 91% of the homes in the area are participating. There is hope that the work here could be done by the fall.
“It’s a very important project for the city. I think that we’ve invested millions of dollars into it, and it has the full support of the administration,” said Kelli O’Leary, Jacksonville’s Deputy Chief Administrative Officer.
Over $207 million has been set aside for the septic tank phase out and so far about $60 million has been spent. That money is coming from federal grants, the city and contributions JEA makes to the city.