FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 15, 2014
GULFPORT RECEIVES FINANCIAL AID
FROM DEP TO REPLACE CULVERT
~Stormwater infrastructure
improvements to aid in water-quality protection~
TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Department
of Environmental Protection has teamed up with the city of Gulfport to fund the
replacement of stormwater pipes. This project will provide a long-term solution
to failed pipelines that the city temporarily fixed recently.
“This project is
critical to ensuring the stability of the roadway through this section of
Gulfport,” said DEP Secretary Herschel T. Vinyard Jr. “The city is doing its
part to upgrade this aging infrastructure and the department is happy to assist
in this effort to improve the water quality of the outfall.”
“It is important that
cities and the state work together to make certain all of Florida’s water
bodies are healthy,” said Representative Kathleen Peters. “These grants that
the city of Gulfport is receiving will do exactly that in maintaining our
infrastructure to protect the quality of our waterways.”
"This is another
great project for Pinellas that will improve the quality of infrastructure for
our residents," Senator Jeff Brandes said. "I look forward to
pursuing more projects to improve the quality of living in our community."
"Thanks to this much-needed and well-timed
funding, my city is able to move forward with this critical stormwater project
ahead of schedule and with a substantially reduced impact to our budget," said city of Gulfport Mayor Samuel Henderson.
Water that flows off of
land and into creeks, streams or rivers after a rain is referred to as
stormwater runoff. Stormwater runoff usually contains a number of pollutants including fertilizers, pesticides, oil and grease. Once this runoff reaches a
waterbody the pollutants can cause rapid algal growth, algal blooms and other
complications.
The pipes in need of
replacement run parallel to homes. They cross Pasadena Place South until they
terminate at a headwall due south of Pasadena Place South. Recently, a pipe failure
resulted in a roadway depression. The city promptly performed emergency repairs
to the pipe in order to restore function immediately. The pipes are nearing the
end of their service life. This project will replace this existing pipe to
remove aging infrastructure and improve the quality of water discharged to the
downstream water body.
The department is
contributing $245,000 to the project and the city of Gulfport is contributing
$150,955. The project is anticipated to be completed by Dec. 2015.
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