‘Make sure it’s sustained:’ New owner takes over Naval Station Mayport wastewater facility

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Naval Station Mayport said it’s taking actions to be environmental stewards and preserve water quality for decades to come.

Its wastewater treatment plant is now going to be owned by American Water Military Service Group as part of a privatization contract which the base said will guarantee its long-term effectiveness.

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This marks the company’s 18th military installation, according to Captain Brian Binder, Commanding Officer for Naval Station Mayport, and its first contract with a U.S. Navy base.

“All of our waste from our ships, as well as the installation facilities, all go to this plant,” Binder said.

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The goal is to rehabilitate, replace aging sewage pipes underground, and bring in experts to make sure the water quality is where it needs to be, and that it’s operating as efficiently as possible.

“We have to make sure it’s maintained, sustained,” Binder said. “[So] it can operate so our ships and aircraft can go forward and do our business and defend this nation.”

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“It doesn’t become something that the installation has to worry about,” said Steve Curtis, President for American Water Military Service Group. “Just thinking about the mission and being ready to protect our nation.”

This contract will also drive down cost. According to the department of the Navy Economic Analysis, it will save the government $65 million during its 50-year contract.

“We have supply chain benefits, pricing benefits, a whole range of things that we can bring to help drive those cost-efficiencies,” Curtis said.

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“We can do our job. Defend the nation. But it does not mean we cannot be environmental stewards,” Binder said. “I think we will be a model. We will be the case study of how to do this and then for the broader Navy.”

The goal of all these upgrades is to give this facility a new lease on life and basically make sure it can operate efficiently for at least another 50 to 75 years.

Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) awarded the contract to privatize the wastewater utility system last June.

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