DEP FUNDS PHASE ONE OF LYNN HAVEN WATER METER REFRESH

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 13, 2014

CONTACT: DEP Press Office, 850-245-2112, DEPNews@dep.state.fl.us 

DEP FUNDS PHASE ONE OF LYNN HAVEN WATER METER REFRESH

~Grant will replace more than 550 outdated water meters~

TALLAHASSEE – The city of Lynn Haven in Bay County will soon install 554 new water meters thanks to a grant of more than $90,000 from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The grant will fund phase one of a two-phase initiative to replace 1,108 water meters.

“Phasing out aging meters and installing new, more efficient water meters is important to reduce water loss,” said DEP Secretary Herschel T. Vinyard Jr. “I am pleased the department is able to assist Lynn Haven in this conservation effort.”

“This is a great investment for the Lynn Haven community,” said Representative Jimmy Patronis. “We continue to focus on ways we can improve and protect our water resources here in Florida.”

“I'm pleased to have included funding for this project in this year's legislative budget,” said Florida Senate President Don Gaetz. “Supporting the priorities of communities, including Lynn Haven, is critical to building the infrastructure of Northwest Florida.”

“The city of Lynn Haven is very appreciative of the support from FDEP in this first phase of water meter replacements and looks forward to partnering on many more successful projects in the future,” said City Manager Joel Schubert.

The goal of the project is to replace all of the meters that have been in service for 20 years or more in order to improve water quality and reduce water loss. The new meters will be more efficient and include backflow preventers. Currently, the city has 10,325 water meters installed that serve both residential and commercial customers.

The city of Lynn Haven owns all of the water facilities being addressed in this project, and maintenance of the facilities will continue to be Lynn Haven's responsibility. The installation of the phase one water meters is anticipated to be completed in Oct. 2015.