Governor Ron DeSantis has announced more than $389 million in grants to safeguard Florida’s water quality and ensure long-term water supply sustainability. The funding, revealed during an event in Palm Bay, includes $189 million in Water Quality Improvement Grants and $55 million for Alternative Water Supply projects, alongside targeted ecosystem restoration investments.
“Florida’s waterways are a vital part of our environment, economy, and way of life, and protecting these resources continues to be a top priority,” said Governor DeSantis. The new funding also includes $100 million for 25 priority projects under the Indian River Lagoon Protection Program, $25 million for Caloosahatchee River and Estuary efforts, and $20 million for Biscayne Bay water quality projects.
Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Alexis A. Lambert emphasized the impact of these investments, saying they are helping reduce nutrient pollution and improve the health of key ecosystems. This year’s Water Quality Improvement Grant cycle saw 348 applications totaling $2.2 billion in requests, with 31 high-priority projects selected for funding. These projects aim to remove over 1.1 million pounds of nitrogen and 286,000 pounds of phosphorus annually through wastewater and stormwater upgrades and septic-to-sewer conversions.
The state also continues to prioritize alternative water sources, with $55 million for the Alternative Water Supply Grant Program, supporting 14 projects expected to produce more than 40 million gallons of water per day within two years. Since 2019, Florida has invested $245 million in alternative supply development, resulting in over 225 million gallons per day of new capacity.
To ensure progress, Governor DeSantis has proposed $550 million in water quality funding and $60 million for alternative water supply development in his budget proposal, reinforcing Florida’s commitment to long-term environmental sustainability and water resilience.
Project highlights from the more than 60 grants include:
- $11.3 million – Vero Beach Water Reclamation Facility construction to produce high-quality reclaimed water.
- $8.6 million – Melbourne Grant Street Water Reclamation Facility Water Quality Improvement Project to upgrade waste treatment processes.
- $5 million – Palm Bay Septic-to-Sewer Project to connect properties to the municipal sewage system, reducing nutrient pollution in the Indian River Lagoon.
- $13.5 million – Fort Myers Wastewater Treatment Facility Upgrade Project to eliminate surface water discharges to the Caloosahatchee River and Estuary.
- $14.7 million – Brackish groundwater projects in the Central Florida Water Initiative Area.
