FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Apr. 27, 2016
NEARLY $12 MILLION AWARDED TO SOUTH FLORIDA COMMUNITIES FOR
DRINKING WATER PROJECTS
~DEP committed to state's water infrastructure improvements and safe
drinking water~
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has
awarded nearly $12 million in low-interest loans to South Florida communities for recent and upcoming drinking water
projects. Loans were awarded through the Drinking Water State Revolving
Fund (DWSRF) program, which assists communities with projects that
protect the safety of drinking water in their area.
"The ability to provide funding for drinking
water projects is vital to meeting the state's
stringent water-quality standards and protecting the health of its
residents and visitors," said Trina Vielhauer, director of the Division of
Water Restoration Assistance. "We encourage community leaders to take
advantage of this funding opportunity."
Below are a few examples of recent DWSRF projects in the southern region of the state.
SOUTHWEST
Haines City: Awarded a $4.7 million increase to
an existing loan for a total of $6.4 million in funding to assist the
city in completing their ion exchange treatment system, which will reduce disinfection byproducts in drinking water and provide safe drinking
water for the residents of this small Polk County community.
SOUTHEAST
Lake Worth: Awarded a $568,432 loan to assist
the city with replacing more than 17 miles of water pipes in its distribution system with larger-diameter pipes designed for long-term use, improving water quality for approximately 12,000 residences in this
coastal community. This six-phase project will be completed over the next five
years.
SOUTH
Gasparilla Island: Awarded a $5 million loan to expand
the capacity of the existing Gasparilla Island Water Association's reverse
osmosis water treatment plant to more than 1.2-million gallons per day. The
project also includes two new brackish water supply wells and a raw water main
to transport water to the water treatment plant.
One of the benefits of DWSRF loans for projects that
help resolve an immediate health concern in financially-disadvantaged
communities, is that a large part of the loan is forgiven
and does not need to be paid back by the community. More than $5
million from some of the projects listed above requires no repayment.
An additional $50 million is available to communities this
fiscal year to fund eligible projects.
The Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) Program provides
low-interest loans to eligible entities for planning, designing and constructing
public water facilities. DWSRF has awarded more than $273 million in
funding for 62 drinking water improvement projects during the past five
years for a total of $925 million in loan funds since its inception in
1998. For more information, visit http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/wff/dwsrf/index.htm.
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