FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 14, 2014
CONTACT: Governor's Press Office, 850.717.9282, media@eog.myflorida.com
GOVERNOR SCOTT
ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $27 MILLION TO IMPROVE CENTRAL FLORIDA WATER QUALITY
~Clean Water State
Revolving Fund program provides low-interest loans for wastewater and
stormwater projects~
ORLANDO, Fla.– Governor
Rick Scott was joined by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and
Secretary Herschel Vinyard today to announce the 11
wastewater and stormwater projects receiving more than $27 million in loan
funding through the Department’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund program in
Central Florida.
Governor
Scott said, “We’ve made protecting Florida’s natural treasures a top priority,
and this $27 million investment will make critical upgrades to water
infrastructure so we can help improve water quality for families in our Central
Florida. Helping improve Florida’s water quality is another step in the right
direction towards making Florida the best state in the nation to live, work and
raise a family.”
Orange
County Mayor Teresa Jacobs said, “It’s wonderful to hear that Orange County has
been included in today’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund program
announcement. We are deeply committed to protecting our cherished natural
resources, and to ensuring and maintaining water quality. Upgrading the
Eastern Water Reclamation Facility will help us maintain our excellent water
quality record, and will help to ensure clean water for future generations.”
Senator
Alan Hays said, “This money will help the residents of Umatilla reduce the
potential for flooding and also treat stormwater, which carries nutrients into
our waterbodies. Governor Scott and DEP continue to show a willingness to
address these issues throughout Florida.”
Senator
Charlie Dean said, “Governor Scott continues to show his support for improving
Florida’s water quality with today’s announcement. The rural counties in
my district and across the state greatly appreciate the Governor’s support of
DEP’s loan program to upgrade wastewater treatment facilities. Clean
water is of upmost importance and this program and the projects which it funds
help accomplish our mission.”
Representative
Ben Albritton said, "I am continually impressed at how our Governor fights
to defend and protect our treasured water resources. Some have taken
water for granted, not this Governor!"
Representative
Bryan Nelson said, “Governor Scott and DEP are committed to improving water
quality through projects that have tangible results. This funding is another
example of the great work Florida is doing for its residents.”
Secretary
Herschel Vinyard, of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection said,
“I appreciate Governor Scott for his leadership and continued commitment to
getting Florida’s water right. This funding will bring wastewater and
stormwater facility upgrades and new projects to Central Florida that are
critical to the protection and restoration of the waterbodies of this state.”
The Projects in Central Florida
Include
Cocoa Beach - $6,000,000
The Cocoa Beach project consists of both
sewer rehabilitation and stormwater improvements. The project will consist of
installation of state-of-the-art, new technology along the Minutemen causeway.
Orange County - $6,000,000
Eastern Water Reclamation Facility in Orlando
is receiving $6 million dollars to construct necessary expansion of the
facility to ensure adequate treatment capacity in this area of the County’s
system.
Lake Wales - $6,000,000
The proposed project consists of replacing
the existing gravity sewer system for the lift station service area. This will
greatly reduce infiltration and inflow.
Cape Canaveral - $3,900,000
This project will rehabilitate and upgrade an
oxidation ditch, sludge belt press, replacement of a Stormwater pipe,
streetscaping, ditch dredging, and installation of new reinforced concrete
pipe.
Gulfport - $1,500,000
This project is for a sanitary sewer
evaluation study and to correct inflow and infiltration.
Daytona Beach - $1,400,000
This project will reroute flow on Beach
Street from overloaded gravity line through a new ductile iron line to be constructed
along Beach Street. The Westside Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant
improvements consist of replacing and rehabilitation of the filters to increase
water quality.
Umatilla - $800,000
The objective of this project is to provide
water quality treatment for the Orange Avenue Corridor and contributing areas.
Reduction of pollutant loading of Lake Umatilla and subsequent downstream
surface water of Lake Eustis will result in improved water quality and reduced
stress on the ecosystem associated with these surface waters.
Daytona Beach - $810,000
There will be infrastructure improvements to
a lift station that involves constructing a new lift station with a wet well
and submersible pumps.
Tavares - $700,000 (2 projects)
$500,000 includes the installation of 4,050
feet of new PVC gravity sewer lines, the replacement of 48,500 feet of gravity
sewer, and the replacement of 2,000 feet of force main in downtown Tavares.
$200,000 is for the construction of an
administrative and training building, operations and maintenance building, and
reclaimed pump station emergency generator. The new buildings will house
personnel needed for the new reclaimed water facilities.
South Daytona - $160,000
This project will construct a 1.25 acre
retention pond at the Lantern Park subdivision with an outfall pump station and
pipe. This will reduce pollutant loads going to Reed Creek canal and Halifax
River.
The
Clean Water State Revolving Fund program was established in 1989 to provide
low-interest financing for the planning, design and construction of wastewater
and stormwater facilities, in compliance with the Clean Water Act. This program
has awarded $3.8 billion in loans since its inception, and more than $1.4
billion in funding for 96 projects in just the last five years. Funded by
federal grants, state matching funds, loan repayments and interest earnings,
state revolving fund loans are offered at interest rates. Repayments from
earlier loans are used to make new loans, allowing the program to continue
operating.
For
more information on the State Revolving Fund program, please visit http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/wff/ .
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