DEP INVESTS IN CLEAN WATER INFRASTRUCTURE WITH $12 MILLION FROM STATE REVOLVING FUND

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 24, 2016

CONTACT: DEP Press Office, 850.245.2112, DEPNews@dep.state.fl.us 

DEP INVESTS IN CLEAN WATER INFRASTRUCTURE WITH $12 MILLION FROM STATE REVOLVING FUND

~State funding assists with clean water infrastructure projects~

 

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.  The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has awarded more than $12 million in low-interest loans to four communities to assist in repairing or replacing aging wastewater infrastructure through its Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF).

"The department is proud to work with local communities to provide funding assistance for projects that repair or replace aging wastewater facilities to protect public health and restore the waterbodies of our state," DEP Secretary Jon Steverson said.

The CWSRF program provides low-interest loans for planning, designing and constructing water pollution control facilities such as wastewater and stormwater treatment systems. Recent CWSRF loan recipients for infrastructure projects include the following communities: 

DeFuniak Springs: Awarded a $1.9 million loan to repair nine lift stations and conduct 86 point repairs to sewer lines using trenchless technology, a less expensive and less invasive repair method. Future phases of this project will include repair or replacement of gravity sewer lines, manholes and system upgrades at the city's wastewater treatment plant. This work improves the integrity and reliability of the city's wastewater system, preventing damage from sewer overflows.

Eatonville: Awarded an $800,000 increase to an existing loan for a total of $4.7 million in funding to repair or replace gravity sewer lines, lift stations, manholes and system upgrades. This infrastructure work corrects sanitary sewer overflows and prevents back-up sewage flows.

Greenville: Awarded a $638,000 loan for the construction of a new wastewater treatment facility, which will replace the town's existing wastewater infrastructure that is currently in disrepair.

North Bay Village: Awarded a $4.8 million loan to repair the village's wastewater collection system and replace several wastewater pumps, control panels and generator systems. This work improves the integrity of the system by repairing and replacing deteriorating collection facilities.

A benefit of CWSRF loans for projects that help small and financially disadvantaged communities is that a significant portion of the loan does not need to be paid back by the community. Nearly $4 million of the total loan amount for the projects listed above requires no repayment.

The Clean Water State Revolving Fund Program has awarded approximately
$1.1 billion in funding for about 120 wastewater and stormwater improvement projects during the past five years for a total of $4 billion in loan funds since its inception in 1989. The program is funded by federal grants, state matching funds, loan repayments and interest earnings. For more information, visit http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/waterprojectfunding/.