FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 20, 2015
MIAMI-DADE AWARDED $15.4 MILLION IN LOAN FUNDING FOR
DRINKING WATER ENHANCEMENTS
~Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Program Helps Local Communities~
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY- The Department of Environmental Protection recently provided approximately $15.4 million through its Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) Program to enhance Miami-Dade County's drinking water distribution system. The SRF Program provides low-interest loans for planning, designing and constructing public water facilities.
“To protect our water quality and ensure a
reliable water supply for our communities, it is essential we invest in
our drinking-water infrastructure,” said DEP Secretary Jon Steverson. “This
funding program enables partnerships to make these vital investments.”
The
funding will be used to replace and relocate outdated water mains and service conversions for the Shenandoah neighborhood.
“I am pleased that the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department
(WASD) is a recipient of this DEP loan,” said WASD Director Lester Sola. “This
will not only aid the WASD in our mission to provide quality drinking
water service to our community, but assists us as we continuously explore
alternate funding options for our 20-year Capital Improvement Program. It is
important that we are not only good stewards of our natural resources, but our
rate-payers’ financial resources, as well.”
This project consists of the design and construction of approximately
16.5 miles of new, properly sized piping, with 2,330 water service connections and 1,400 water
service conversions. Construction is expected to begin October 2015 and be completed in February 2017. DEP has committed to provide an additional $9 million in the next few months to fully fund the project’s total expected costs of more than $24 million.
For the 2015-16 fiscal year, 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 the 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 more than $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, click here.
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