Florida commits $22.6 million to new water supplies in Tampa Bay and Polk

The state of Florida has allocated $22.6 million to expand drinking water infrastructure in two distinct regions, splitting the funds between Tampa Bay Water and a cooperative in Polk County. This new funding is part of a larger $100 million statewide investment announced on Wednesday.

Tampa Bay Water, which serves member governments in Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco counties, will receive $10 million of the total award. The utility plans to use these funds to increase its surface water treatment capacity by 12.5 million gallons per day.

The remaining $12.6 million will go to seven communities in Polk County through the Polk Regional Water Cooperative. These local groups intend to use the money to develop alternative drinking water sources using brackish water. Brackish water contains more salt than freshwater but less than seawater, and it can be treated for human consumption.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the funding package in Crystal River. The $100 million commitment includes $50 million for 22 alternative water supply projects and another $50 million for 23 projects focused on restoring springs and improving water quality. The alternative water projects are expected to generate more than 60 million gallons per day once completed.

The investments cover a range of methods, including reclaimed water systems, aquifer recharge, and conservation efforts. Six reclaimed water projects will share $19.1 million, which includes an expansion at the City of Fort Myers’ Central Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility and a transmission project in Apopka. In Apopka, treated wastewater is set to replace drinking water for irrigation and other non-potable uses.

The Alternative Water Supply Grant Program has received $385 million in legislative appropriations since 2019. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection states that projects funded through this program are expected to provide more than 400 million gallons of water per day when fully operational.

The second half of the state's investment targets springs restoration. The 23 funded projects aim to remove more than 55,000 pounds of nitrogen annually through wastewater infrastructure improvements. In Citrus County, $3 million will fund septic-to-sewer conversions and nitrogen-reducing upgrades that benefit the Chassahowitzka-Homosassa Springs and Kings Bay and Crystal River Springs. Since 2019, Florida has invested $480 million in springs restoration, with the Department of Environmental Protection estimating a reduction of approximately 900,000 pounds of nitrogen pollution per year.