FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 5, 2017
DEP Awards
More Than $26.6 Million for
Charlotte Harbor
Water Quality Initiative Projects
~Wastewater infrastructure improvement projects will benefit Charlotte
Harbor~
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. –The Florida Department
of Environmental Protection recently awarded an additional $26.6 million
in low-interest loans to Charlotte County to improve wastewater
infrastructure and utility services, totaling more than
$60.2
million in loans to date to fund Charlotte Harbor Water Quality
Initiative projects. Funding is provided through the state's Clean
Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) loan program.
"Helping to restore and protect Florida's waterways is a
priority, and we are pleased to provide funding for projects that
will benefit Charlotte Harbor, Florida's second largest, natural
open-water estuary," said Drew Bartlett, DEP deputy secretary for ecosystems restoration.
The Charlotte Harbor Water Quality Initiative is a partnership between local and state agencies to work towards implementing projects to improve water quality
within the Lower Charlotte Harbor basin, primarily through septic-to sewer
conversions, wastewater infrastructure and stormwater improvements. These types of projects reduce nutrient and bacterial pollution, which protect
estuarine ecosystems and maintain the health and safety of residents.
A $5.2 million planning and design loan was awarded for current
and future phases of infrastructure improvements for the Initiative, including:
- Expansion of sewer into the unincorporated El Jobean
community, reducing nutrients to the Myakka River from existing onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems (OSTDS);
-
Expansion of sewer along a 3-mile corridor of U.S. Highway
41 to over
1,000 properties, primarily commercial, and a lift station that
will handle additional flows from this area;
- Expansion of water, sewer and reclaimed water services
to the area south of Edgewater Drive within the drainage basin of Ackerman
and Countryman Waterways, removing additional OSTDS from this basin; and
- Finalization of the design for the Loveland master lift
station that will handle anticipated flows from future Initiative
projects, and a force main from the master lift station to the East Port Water
Reclamation Facility.
Two additional construction loans, totaling $21.4 million, were awarded to construct
new and replace existing wastewater infrastructure, including:
- Continuation of constructing new wastewater collection
and transmission facilities for residential properties in the East and
West Spring Lake area currently served by OSTDS;
- Construction of the Loveland master lift station being
designed to convey future flows to the East Port
Water Reclamation Facility; and
- Installation of new wastewater force mains and
reclaimed water service lines, and replacement of portions of existing
gravity sewers within several sections of the Parkside Community
Redevelopment Area.
"Charlotte County is thankful for DEP's partnership in helping us continue the massive undertaking of converting septic tanks to central sewer through these projects," said Bill Truex, chairman of the Charlotte County Board of County Commissioners. "This will not only improve water quality in Charlotte Harbor now, but it will ensure the future protection of this important resource."
Previous loans for Charlotte Harbor Water Quality
Initiative projects total
$33.6 million and included the initial
phases of providing centralized sewer to the East and West Spring
Lakes area. These previously funded, completed projects
include installation of new pipes to handle flows from the septic-to-sewer
conversion, installation of a new pump station at the East Port Water Reclamation Facility,
and creation of a reclaimed water storage pond.
The CWSRF Program has awarded approximately $1.1 billion in funding
for over
120 wastewater and stormwater improvement projects during the
past five years, and 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 DEP's Water Project Funding webpage.
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