$481M Will Improve Wastewater and Water Quality in Florida

Gov. Ron DeSantis was joined by Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) Secretary Shawn Hamilton and Chief Science Officer Dr. Mark Rains to announce the awards for 103 wastewater and springs projects totaling $481 million. The projects awarded will improve wastewater and water quality in waterbodies across Florida, reducing total nitrogen loading by more than 700,000 pounds per year.

“These awards are going to make a big difference for our world-renowned springs and water quality all throughout the state of Florida,” said Gov. DeSantis. “Florida’s water resources are what our economy runs on and our environment is really integral to what these communities are all about. We’re blessed to have these resources and we have a responsibility to leave them better than we found them.”

Said FDEP Secretary Shawn Hamilton, “We’re taking another step forward for the protection of our state’s natural resources. This funding will support 103 important projects to construct, upgrade, or expand wastewater treatment facilities to provide advanced waste treatment, upgrade or convert traditional septic systems, and acquire land that will restore and protect our springs and other waterways.”

“As a lifelong Floridian, I see this investment in future water quality projects as good news, especially with so much of the funding going toward mitigation of septic and sewer issues that have contributed to red tide issues in our state,” said Capt. C.A. Richardson, ambassador for Captains for Clean Water. “Never has our state seen so much support on behalf of water quality and our natural resources. It gives hope to all of us who call Florida home! Captains for Clean Water stands behind these initiatives and they will make a difference for future generations.”

According to Brian Armstrong, executive director of Southwest Florida Water Management District, “Protecting the first-magnitude springs in our district is a top priority. Thanks to the leadership of the governor and funding from FDEP, we’ll be able to do even more to improve our springs, such as taking harmful septic tanks offline, which are contributing significant nitrogen pollution to the springs system.”

The more than $481 million awarded was made available through three grant programs administered by FDEP: Wastewater Grant Program, springs restoration grants, and Small Community Wastewater Grant Program.

The money is allocated as follows: S $394 million from the Wastewater Grant

Program for wastewater treatment improvements, including septic-to-sewer projects and projects for advanced waste

treatment upgrades. The money awarded is from federal funds. S $67 million for projects to protect Florida’s world-renowned springs, including land acquisition/conservation easements and wastewater infrastructure improvements.

Of the $67 million awarded, $50 million is from state funds and $17 million is from federal funds. S $20 million for the Small Community

Wastewater Grant Program for wastewater facility improvements in rural areas of economic opportunity and financially disadvantaged communities. The money awarded is from federal funds.

“We are excited to partner with the state in protecting Weeki Wachee Springs from the impact of conventional septic systems,” said Jeff Rogers, Hernando County administrator. “This funding not only removes 224 septic systems from the Weeki Wachee springshed, it also upgrades the master infrastructure needed to implement the county’s 20-year plan to convert nearly 3,400 septic systems to a centralized sewer.”

The FDEP wastewater grant program was established in the Clean Waterways Act, which Gov. DeSantis signed into law in 2020. The program prioritizes wastewater projects in basin management action plans, restoration plan areas, and rural areas of opportunity

and also requires at least a 50 percent match, which may be waived by FDEP for rural areas of opportunity.

Florida is home to more first- and secondmagnitude springs than anywhere in the United States. Florida’s springs can support entire ecosystems, offer many recreational opportunities, and serve as economic drivers for communities. State government has made a significant financial commitment to springs restoration, dedicating $225 million since Fiscal Year 2019-20. This funding has enabled FDEP to assist local governments and other stakeholders to identify and construct projects that are imperative to achieving restoration goals.

The Small Community Wastewater Grant Program funds septic-to-sewer conversions and wastewater treatment facility improvements in rural areas of opportunity and fiscally constrained counties, as defined in Section 288.0656 and 218.67(1), Florida Statutes.

Gov. DeSantis also announced an award of $114 million for the first grants from the Wastewater Grant Program. Out of the $114 million awarded, more than $53 million—46 percent of the funding—was granted to the Indian River Lagoon, the most biologically diverse estuary in North America and an important resource for species such as the Florida scrub jay, manatees, and sea turtles. S