PUTNAM COUNTY RECEIVES FUNDING FOR ST. JOHNS RIVER PROTECTION

Florida DEP Banner

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 28, 2014

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

PUTNAM COUNTY RECEIVES FUNDING FOR ST. JOHNS RIVER PROTECTION

~DEP provides county money to construct central wastewater collection facility~

TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is committing $750,000 to design and construct a centralized wastewater system in East Palatka, which is within Putnam County. The new Putnam County Wastewater Treatment Facility will be able to support approximately 1,200 homes.

“We are extremely proud of Putnam County for following the Basin Management Action Plan that has been established,” DEP Secretary Herschel T. Vinyard Jr. said. “DEP is excited to provide this financial support to the county to help further protect local waterbodies, including the St. Johns River.”

This funding will go to the construction phase of the regional wastewater system and includes hooking up additional residences and businesses along with the Putnam Correctional Institute and the Putnam Public Works Facility.

This project involves removal of septic tanks, which can have a negative impact on Florida’s water resources. By eliminating septic tanks, surface waters in the area, including the St. Johns River, are better protected from pollutants. In fact, septic tank removal is part of the Basin Management Action Plan that is designed to improve the health of the St. Johns River.

The project is anticipated to be complete by the end May 2015.

For more information on the Lower St. Johns River Basin Management Action Plan, click here