Florida Water Funding: Tampa Bay Expansion

Florida state officials have allocated $22.6 million to expand drinking water infrastructure in the Tampa Bay region and Polk County. The funding was distributed to address growing demand and develop alternative sources for municipal systems.

Tampa Bay Water will receive $10 million of the total award. The utility serves member governments in Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco counties. It plans to use the funds to increase surface water treatment capacity by 12.5 million gallons per day. The second portion of the award totals $12.6 million. This sum supports seven communities in Polk County that are developing supplies from brackish water sources.

Brackish water contains more salt than freshwater but less than seawater. It can be treated for drinking use. The Polk Regional Water Cooperative is coordinating these development efforts. The awards are part of a $100 million statewide investment package announced Wednesday by Gov. Ron DeSantis in Crystal River.

The state committed $50 million to 22 alternative water supply projects and another $50 million to 23 projects aimed at restoring springs and improving water quality. The alternative water projects are expected to produce more than 60 million gallons per day upon completion. Investments include reclaimed water systems, aquifer recharge, and conservation measures.

Six reclaimed water projects will share $19.1 million. These include an expansion at the City of Fort Myers’ Central Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility and a transmission project in Apopka. In Apopka, treated wastewater will 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 estimates that funded projects will provide more than 400 million gallons of water per day when fully operational. The second $50 million allocation supports springs restoration through wastewater infrastructure improvements and nitrogen pollution reduction. The 23 projects are expected to remove more than 55,000 pounds of nitrogen annually.

Work in Citrus County includes $3 million for septic-to-sewer conversions and nitrogen-reducing upgrades. These projects benefit the Chassahowitzka-Homosassa Springs and Kings Bay and Crystal River Springs. Since 2019, Florida has invested $480 million in springs restoration projects, which are estimated to reduce nitrogen pollution by approximately 900,000 pounds per year. The awards cover projects selected for fiscal year 2026-27, though the state did not specify operational dates for the new Tampa Bay or Polk County facilities.