Smart North Florida: Using Real-Time Water Intelligence to Protect Coastal Ecosystems

Clients:

• City of Neptune Beach, Florida
• City of Atlantic Beach, Florida

Client Leads: Colin Moore, Neptune Beach Parks and Sustainability Director and Steve Swann, PE, Atlantic Beach City Engineer

Program: Smart North Florida

Executive summary

Following recently passed State legislation that prohibits the “nonbeneficial” surface water discharge of treated wastewater by 2032, municipalities across Florida are facing an urgent need for environmentally responsible alternatives.

Smart North Florida partnered with the cities of Neptune Beach and Atlantic Beach to deploy a data-driven solution that supports repurposing treated wastewater as a tool for environmental protection, rather than disposal. This initiative aims to prevent saltwater intrusion into area creeks and drainage ditches by discharging highly treated wastewater in their upper freshwater reaches. This practice will protect downstream freshwater ecosystems and safeguard hardwood forests in this coastal area of the St. Johns River watershed and will use real-time water quality monitoring for verification.

The Challenge

Historically, treated wastewater was discharged directly into the St. Johns River north of Neptune and Atlantic Beach. Under the current Florida mandate, this practice will no longer be permitted after January 1, 2032. At the same time, saltwater intrusion into area freshwater systems is beginning to impact adjacent hardwood trees. The challenges this situation presents are:

• Identifying alternative economically feasible and effective inland discharge locations
• Preventing saltwater intrusion into the freshwater creeks
• Protecting hardwood forests and sensitive freshwater ecosystems

Identifying a solution that provides beneficial use of the highly treated wastewater and preserves the quality of the freshwater ecosystems begins with continuously monitoring water quality to quantify the salinity problem and model a solution.

The Solution

Smart North Florida implemented the WATR real-time water monitoring unit to deliver continuous, actionable insight into salinity levels across key locations upstream of the St. Johns River.

The system provides:

• Real-time salinity monitoring
• Live dashboards accessible to environmental and sustainability teams
• Automated alerts when salinity thresholds are approached or exceeded
• Data to support evidence-based decision-making on discharge placement

This approach allows for analysis to support the strategic discharge of highly treated wastewater to form a freshwater barrier, reducing saltwater intrusion and reinforcing natural protections for inland freshwater ecosystems.

Implementation

The WATR monitoring unit was installed at a strategic monitoring point upstream of the St. Johns River. Installation was completed quickly and without disruption to surrounding infrastructure or natural habitats.

Once live, the system immediately began delivering continuous salinity data to the Smart North Florida environmental team and the cities of Neptune Beach and Atlantic Beach.

Results & Early Outcomes

• Continuous visibility into salinity trends and fluctuations
• Improved confidence in selecting optimal discharge locations
• Reduced environmental risk through proactive monitoring
• Alignment with State of Florida compliance requirements

The city plans to use the data collected throughout the year to inform long-term wastewater management and environmental protection strategies.

Client Testimonial

I’m very happy with the data and that it’s easy to track on the dashboard. We’re planning to analyse the data using the WATR monitor for the rest of the year. Installation was very seamless and professionally delivered.

Conclusion

The Smart North Florida initiative demonstrates how real-time environmental intelligence can transform regulatory challenges into opportunities for ecosystem protection. By leveraging treated wastewater as a protective freshwater resource, the cities of Neptune Beach and Atlantic Beach are setting a replicable model for sustainable coastal water management across Florida and beyond.