Grants for Wastewater Infrastructure Projects Announced Gov. Ron DeSantis has awarded $240 million through the Wastewater Grant Program to support 36 wastewater infrastructure projects to reduce nutrients in Florida’s waterways, including $372,000 for The Cove at South Beaches Sanitary Sewerage Project. Awarded projects include advanced wastewater treatment upgrades and septic-to-sewer projects that will eliminate nearly 20,000 septic tanks. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) Wastewater Grant Program helps fund wastewater infrastructure projects that construct, upgrade, or expand wastewater treatment facilities to provide advanced waste treatment, and projects to upgrade or convert traditional septic systems. The grant program was established in the Clean Waterways Act signed in 2021 and prioritizes projects in basin management action plans, restoration plan areas, and rural areas of opportunity. The program requires at least a 50 percent match, which may be waived by FDEP for rural areas of opportunity. On Jan. 10, 2023, Gov. DeSantis signed Executive Order 23-06 to further advance the protection of Florida’s environment and water quality. The executive order directs strategic action, with a focus on accountability, sound science, progress, and collaboration and includes a proposed $3.5 billion investment over four years for Everglades restoration and protection of water resources, including
64 March 2023 • Florida Water Resources Journal
through the grant program, surpassing the historic investments of the past four years and making it the highest level of funding in Florida’s history. This includes expanding the grant program eligibility to address additional sources of nutrient contribution. The projects are: Project Number, Partners, Project Name, Projected Grant Funds 1. H illsborough County - Gibsonton Septic-to-Sewer, Phases 2, 3, and 4 - $13,000,000 2. F lorida Governmental Utility Authority - Lehigh Acres Septicto-Sewer Project - $5,000,000 3. F lorida Governmental Utility Authority - North Fort Myers Septic-to-Sewer Project - $5,100,000 4. B revard County Natural Resources - The Cove at South Beaches Sanitary Sewerage Project - $372,000 5. C ity of Orange City - City of Orange City Septic-to-CentralSewer Project - $2,500,000 6. C ity of Sanford - Sanford North WRF-BNR/AWT Improvements, Phase II - $3,300,000 7. O keechobee Utility Authority - Pine Ridge Park Septic-to-Sewer Project - $1,500,000 8. O keechobee Utility Authority - Southwest Wastewater Service Area Septic-to-Sewer Project - $3,500,000 9. O keechobee Utility Authority - Southwest 5th Avenue Septic-toSewer Project - $2,500,000 10. O keechobee Utility Authority - Connecting OSTDS to Central Sewer Project - $2,500,000 11. C ity of Sebring, South Service Area Septic-to-Sewer Project $10,600,000 12. C ity of West Melbourne - Ray Bullard WRF-BNR Improvements - $1,510,000 13. B revard County - Willow Lakes RV Resort Sanitary Sewerage Project - $1,257,000 14. C ity of Gainesville, Gainesville Regional Utilities - GRU Main Street Water Reclamation Facility (MSWRF) Enhanced