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PALM COAST– The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) recently
awarded a $14.2 million low interest loan to the City of Palm Coast to expand
the City’s wastewater treatment and reclaimed water reuse facilities. The loan,
part of DEP’s State Revolving Fund Program created by the Florida Legislature,
will allow the City to reuse virtually all of its treated wastewater for public
access areas and residential irrigation.
“Reuse is a key part of meeting Florida’s future water needs. We as a state
reuse 660 million gallons of reclaimed water each day to conserve freshwater
supplies, but we have more work to do and we can’t do it without our local
partners,” said DEP Division of Water Resource Management Director Janet
Llewellyn. “The Legislature has recognized that efficient water management,
including reuse, helps preserve our natural ecosystems and ensure sustainable
local water supplies. The State Revolving Fund Loan Program allows these
partnerships to happen.”
DEP established the State Revolving Fund to provide low interest financing to
plan, design and build wastewater and stormwater systems. Funds can be used for
wastewater, stormwater, reuse, estuary protection and other water quality
improvement projects. Funded by federal capitalization grants, state matching
funds, loan repayments and interest earnings, State Revolving Fund loans are
generally offered at interest rates substantially below current market rates and
are targeted to help make loans affordable. Repayments from earlier loans are
used to make new loans, allowing the program to operate in perpetuity.
Since 1999, Florida has invested more than $3.1 billion to upgrade and
improve water and wastewater facilities and clean up stormwater pollution,
funding about 1,800 projects statewide. Since 1999, the State Revolving Fund
Programs have committed more than $1.9 billion, including more than $315 million
last year, to plan, design and build wastewater facilities across the state.
For more information on the State Revolving Fund and other financial
assistance, visit
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/wff/index.htm. |
