Collaborative Effort Brings Free Irrigation Water to Inner-City Golf Course

JACKSONVILLE - An inner-city golf course began receiving free irrigation reuse water today thanks to a successful cooperative effort. Florida Department of Environmental Protection Deputy Secretary Allan Bedwell joined Jacksonville City Council Vice President Lad Daniels at The First Tee of Jacksonville to turn the sprinklers on one of the state’s first industrial reuse projects.

“Public and private interests have come together to score a hole in one for the environment and the community,” said Bedwell. “Groundbreaking projects like this illustrate why Florida is a national leader in water reuse.”

Through an innovative water conservation project, The First Tee of Jacksonville is receiving 200,000 gallons of non-process industrial wastewater daily from Millennium Specialty Chemicals to irrigate fairways and greens. Treated reuse water will be piped to the community golf course across more than one mile of land donated by CSX Transportation. As an in-kind project, Millennium spent almost $160,000 dollars to provide reuse water to The First Tee of Jacksonville, eliminating their reliance on groundwater for irrigation, conserving precious water resources and saving the non-profit facility thousands of dollars in irrigation costs.

“This project is not only good for the environment but also has significant economic and social benefits,” said Daniels. “Millennium and CSX deserve credit for looking beyond their fence line to improve the quality of life of their community neighbors.”

In addition to benefiting The First Tee of Jacksonville, the new Habijax and public housing community, Fairway Oaks, will receive reuse water to irrigate the park and play field area. Mike Templeton, Director of Manufacturing for Millennium Specialty Chemicals, today presented a $4,000 check to Habijax to fund irrigation improvements needed to bring the reuse water to the community.

“This really is a model for how government, business and the non-profit sector can work together for the good of the community,” said J. Randall Evans, CSX’s vice president for real estate and industrial development.

The First Tee of Jacksonville is a not-for-profit inner-city golf course providing recreational opportunities to economically disadvantaged youth. To minimize green fees, The First Tee of Jacksonville relies on donations and in-kind resources. National celebrities such as former President George H.W. Bush and Tiger Woods are on the Board of Directors for The First Tee's National Organization and have lent support to the golf course.

“The efforts of everyone involved will ensure that our mission is accomplished,” said The First Tee of Jacksonville’s Executive Director Dr. Arthur Browning Jr. “With the savings from this irrigation project many more children will be able to participate in the golf and life skills program.”

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