Posted on September 28, 2021
SEBASTIAN INLET STATE PARK — Gov. Ron DeSantis announced more than $53 million in new funding Friday to help clean the waters of the Indian River Lagoon, with promises that state lawmakers would allocate a similar amount annually to clean up the ailing estuary.
At a press conference at the Sebastian Inlet State Park Friday afternoon, DeSantis said the money would be used for 13 projects, which include eliminating more than 3,000 septic tanks along the banks of the lagoon and updating three sewage treatment plants to advanced treatment to remove more of the nutrients that spur excess algae when wastewater reaches the lagoon.
“These projects are estimated to reduce total nitrogen by nearly 265,000 pounds per year and reduce total phosphorus by nearly 43,000 pounds per year,” DeSantis said.
The money comes as a welcome shot in the arm for the lagoon, advocates of the estuary said. So far this year a record 946 manatees have died in Florida, including 320 in Brevard County (as of Sept. 17) and more than half of the lagoon’s life-sustaining seagrass that died a decade ago has yet to grow back.
Friday’s announcement represents a milestone for lagoon activists who long yearned for dedicated, consistent state funding for long-term cleanup projects.
The money is part of $114 million in statewide water quality improvement projects, the governor said.
“We took a strategic approach when reviewing these projects,” DeSantis said, from a lecterninside the park’s fishing museum. “These projects and the resulting nutrient reductions will have a really positive effect on all these areas, but particularly the lagoon. This is continuing with our commitment to protecting and improving Florida’s water resources.”
Some of the larger projects along the lagoon include:
Brevard:
- $11 million for three separate septic-to-sewer conversion projects on Merritt Island
- $1 million for South Central D Septic-to-Sewer
- $1.5 million for Sykes Creek R Septic-to Sewer
- $2.2 million for the South Beaches sewer plant to upgrade to advanced wastewater treatment
- $3.37 million to convert homes on septic tanks in South Central Brevard the sewer system
Indian River County:
- $1.568 million for the West Wabasso Phase 3 Septic to Sewer Conversion in Indian River County
Volusia County:
- $5.5 million for the Southeast Regional Wastewater Reclamation Facility’s to upgrade to advanced wastewater treatment
- $14.95 million for the Southwest Regional sewer plan in Volusia County to expand to reduce nutrients into nearby springs
A full list of the projects is here.
Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Shawn Hamilton and local officials also were on hand Friday to announce the awards for the Wastewater Grant Program, established in the Clean Waterways Act and funded in this year’s state budget. Eligible projects include those that upgrade septic systems to include nutrient removal technology, provide advanced wastewater treatment, or convert septic tanks to central sewer systems.
DEP’s wastewater grant program prioritizes wastewater projects in action plans, and requires at least 50% matching funds, which may be waived by DEP for some rural areas.
Of the total $114 million awarded this year, more than $53 million of the wastewater grants, 46%, went to the lagoon.
“Since I first took office, expediting water quality restoration has been one of my top priorities,” DeSantis said. “The Indian River Lagoon covers 40% of Florida’s East Coast and is one of our state’s most iconic and critical natural resources, contributing an estimated $2 billion annually for tourism and recreation and $767 million to the marine industry.”
DEP Secretary Shawn Hamilton called DeSantis’ commitment and advocacy for water quality “unwavering.”
“Today we are celebrating a suite of projects that will help prevent or reduce the amount of nutrients going into the Indian River Lagoon, to help reduce the frequency and duration of harmful algal blooms, help restore seagrasses, and protect marine ecosystems,” Hamilton said.
Upgrading three wastewater treatment facilities will resultin an estimated reduction of more than 200,000 pounds of total nitrogen per year and more than 37,000 pounds of total phosphorus per year, according to the governor’s office.
“I was proud to sponsor the Clean Waterways Act, which had bipartisan support and implemented major reforms to improve water quality in our state, including the creation of the Wastewater Grant Program at DEP,” Sen. Debbie Mayfield said. “Under Gov. DeSantis’ leadership, Florida has tackled the state’s water quality issues head on. The $53 million of projects announced today shows the Governor’s commitment to improving the health of the IRL.”
Representative Randy Fine said DeSantis delivered on his promises.
“I think the governor’s commitment today shows that as long as the Indian River Lagoon is an issue, he’ll be working with legislators like me to make sure we solve that problem,” Fine said after Friday’s press conference. “This is the first time we’ve had this dedicated source to focus on wastewater treatment and infrastructure upgrades.”
That dedicated source is something Duane De Freese, executive director of the Indian River Lagoon Council and the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program, has tried to get the state to commit to for years.
‘The Governor’s announcement is really exciting because it is a transformational investment of state funds to improve wastewater infrastructure along the Indian River Lagoon to improve water quality,” De Freese said in a release.
Daniel Andrews, co-founder and executive director of the nonprofit Captains For Clean Water, called the new funding a step in the right direction down a long road.”
“Nutrient pollution is a serious problem in Florida, possibly the single most important issue that could make or break our economy,” he said in a release. “We must continue to fight for lasting solutions that secure the health and usability of our beaches and waterways – the lifeblood of our state.”
