DEP project to benefit Wekiwa Springs
Project: Longwood Transmission Main for Septic Tank Abatement Program and Springs Recharge
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection announced a suite of 40 projects that will receive $50 million from the Fighting for Florida’s Future budget to improve water quality, reduce nutrient loading, recharge water supply and protect habitat in Florida’s iconic spring systems. This includes a state investment of more than $10.2 million to protect springs in Central and Northeast Florida, including the Silver, Wekiva, Volusia Blue and De Leon springsheds. Combined with match funding from Florida’s water management districts and local partners, the investment in springs projects statewide will total more than $94 million during the 2017-18 fiscal year.
The project development process is a collaborative effort among the department, water management districts, community leaders and local stakeholders. Projects are selected based on pollutant reduction, water conservation, cost effectiveness and available matching dollars.
A total of $4.6 million in collaborative funding will be used to install a transmission main to connect to the city of Altamonte Springs plant, providing the needed treatment capacity for Longwood's existing and future septic tank connection projects. This project is part of the Central Florida Water Initiative (CFWI), and is a continuation of Longwood's septic tank abatement program. The long-term flow to the system from this project is estimated at 1.1 million gallons per day. This project will provide additional water for recharge for the Wekiva system through the city of Apopka storage area, and will add a reuse source to the regional system between Apopka, the city of Altamonte Springs and the A-FIRST system, Orange County Utilities, and others within the CFWI.
A complete list of the springs protection projects funded by the Fighting for Florida’s Future budget can be found here. These projects will be considered by the water management district Governing Boards as part of their upcoming budget hearings. More information is also available on springs projects funded during the FY 16-17 year and FY 15-16 year.
