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August 2003

Zoo project highlights JEA partnership

By AMY PARMELEE
Staff Writer

Dr. John Woolschlager, from left, and research assistants David Bright and Anne Harrington are spending the summerat the Jacksonville Zoological Gardens tracking the zoo's water usage for a study funded by JEA.

Dr. John Woolschlager and two research assistants have gone from the Plains of East Africa to the Australian Adventure to the restroom facilities at the Jacksonville Zoological Gardens this summer, all in an effort to discover how the zoo uses its water.

The $25,000 research project is funded by JEA and will determine the zoo's current water usage and project its future water needs so it can set a more accurate water withdrawal level with the area's water management district.

The project is an example of the growing relationship between the utility and the University. In this study, JEA proved to be the coordinating link between UNF, the zoo and the water district.

The zoo and the water district wanted to get a better idea of the zoo's water usage from the wells because the zoo is over its limit for its Consumptive Use Permit, which is up for renewal with the St. Johns River Water Management District, said Karl Kranz, director of Biological Programs at the zoo.

"We know how much we use, but we don't have a good idea of how and where the water is used," Kranz said.

The zoo can account for only about 30 percent of the water it is using, Woolschlager said. His goal is to account for up to 95 percent of the water used from the zoo's on-site wells.

Woolschlager, who works in environmental engineering and hydraulic analysis in the College of Computing, Engineering and Construction, has an ongoing relationship with JEA. Last year he conducted an analysis of the St. Johns River. Future plans involve work on the water supply, drinking water quality and water conservation.

The zoo is a JEA customer, and JEA has an agreement with the water district to promote water conservation. So, helping the zoo through the study was one way to urge conservation and education while helping a major customer, said Susan Hughes, vice president for Environmental Services at JEA.

Hughes knew Woolschlager from his earlier work with JEA and thought his experience would fit the project.

"There's multiple benefits to having a university to do the research," she said, including the hands-on experience it gives to students.

"There's nothing like real-world applications," she added.
David Bright, who is one of two research assistants on the project, can see this value, even though the study is still in the early stages.

"I have learned 'hands-on' engineering," said Bright, a junior in civil engineering. "In class, we deal with ideal systems that never happen in the real world."
The zoo, which opened at its current site in 1925, has expanded from about 37 acres to more than 70 acres. Older exhibits were not created with water conservation a consideration, although Kranz said conservation is an issue with newer exhibits.The zoo also lacks complete documentation of where underground pipes are located.

Aside from the permitting issue, the study makes good business sense and is important to the zoo, Kranz said.

"We are a conservation organization, and we need to 'walk the talk.'"

For the first phase of the study, Woolschlager, Bright and Anne Harrington spent about three days a week at the zoo and expect to spend five or six days a week there in August.

"The zoo makes our work more enjoyable," Bright said. "It is nice to be outside in the fresh air, and it is interesting seeing all of the different animals at the zoo."

They can go anywhere the general public is allowed, but zoo personnel must accompany them into restricted areas. As part of the study, the researchers also must learn about who - or what - is using the water.

"We will learn about all aspects of the zoo's water usage during this project, including water usage for animal care, animal habitat cleaning, moat filling, etc.," Woolschlager said.

While it is too early to say what conservation efforts will be recommended, both Woolschlager and Hughes said reclaimed water, or reuse water, from JEA or from within the zoo is a possibility. No reclaimed water is used now to offset withdrawals from the aquifer.

"We may consider using reclaimed water, but the zoo must maintain very high animal health standards," he said. "For example, animals must be given (JEA-supplied) water to drink, although humans can drink well water."

For now, the group is working with flow meters to discover actual water usage, observing how water is used and checking facilities for things such as leaks, surveying employees and gathering supplemental data.

A final report is due at the end of the summer. While the zoo's conservation efforts will help, Woolschlager said Florida's water source, the Floridan Aquifer, is not expected to meet the area's needs by 2020.

"The aquifer is something we should all be protecting as a resource," Hughes said.