FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 27, 2015
NEARLY $19 MILLION IN STATE LOAN FUNDING AWARDED TO ASSIST DRINKING WATER SYSTEMS
~DEP
program helps recipients to improve drinking water systems~
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Nearly $19 million has been made available by
the Department of Environmental Protection's Drinking Water State
Revolving Fund (SRF) Program for improvements to eight eligible local
drinking water systems. The funds will allow these drinking water system
operators to update water infrastructure and improve drinking water quality.
The funding is a combination of grants and loans that carry a below-market
interest rate, which helps keep costs to ratepayers low.
“Investing in our drinking-water infrastructure is essential to ensuring a dependable, healthy water supply for our residents,” said DEP Secretary Jon Steverson “This funding
program helps local governments make these vital investments in our communities.”
During this initial round of funding for FY 2015-16, DEP will
provide loans and grants for Haines City, the town of Ponce Inlet, Orange City,
Lake Worth, Lighthouse Utilities, Gasparilla Island Water Association, Marianna and Wildwood. These projects include:
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Haines City: Awarded an additional $4.5 million this fiscal year that brings the total funding to the needed $6.2 million to complete the improvements to Haines City's Water Treatment Plant No. 1 that will better purify the city's drinking water.
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Ponce Inlet: Awarded an additional $212,000 this fiscal year that brings the total funding to the needed $1.3 million for the replacement of aging and undersized transmission and distribution mains that will improve water quality and increase the reliability of the quantity delivered.
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Orange City: Awarded nearly $5 million for upgrades to the drinking water facility and distribution system as well as the installation of a new well. This will help the county’s compliance with drinking water standards and ensure a safe, sustainable and reliable drinking water for local businesses and town residents.
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Lake Worth: Awarded $568,000 for the replacement of 17 miles of old, undersized water distribution system pipes with properly-sized piping to improve water quality and the level of service to town customers.
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Lighthouse Utilities: Awarded $240,000 to evaluate the existing water treatment plant capacity and develop recommendations for system improvements, which are currently estimated to cost over $5 million. Once recommendations are made, the utility plans to seek further SRF funds for the construction of necessary upgrades to the water treatment system located in South Gulf County.
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Gasparilla Island Water Association: Awarded more than $5 million to expand capacity at the reverse osmosis plant located in Lee County and install two new wells that will help reduce salt water intrusion issues in the area and improve treatment of the saline water to drinking-water product.
- Marianna: Awarded $2.9 million for new water distribution system piping along SR 166 and SR 71N to meet the demand of the Sunland system and provide a back-up option for when the system has to be repaired. This will also help improve water quality in the town’s entire service area.
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Wildwood: Awarded over $150,000 to assist with the purchase of land needed to construct a new well in Wildwood's northern service area, which will help reliably serve customers in this part of the city. The city received a 2016 legislative grant to help construct the well and is planning to seek an additional $1 million construction loan from SRF to complete the project.
For FY 2015-16, the department has approximately
$169 million available to fund drinking water improvement projects. The program
is funded by federal grants, state matching funds, loan repayments and interest
earnings.
Projects that meet requirements for Drinking Water State
Revolving Fund assistance are ranked on the priority list as required by the
federal Safe Drinking Water Act. The priority ranking system gives the
greatest priority to projects that address risks to human health, ensure
compliance with drinking water regulations and assist systems most in
need. The priority list is reviewed and adopted periodically by the
department at public meetings as projects become ready.
The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program has awarded over $825
million in loans for drinking water improvement projects since its inception in
1998, and $265 million in funding for 71 projects in just the past five years.
For more information, visit here.
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