Region wins nearly $40M in state funding for water pollution reduction projects

Funding for five water quality projects in the region worth nearly $40 million has been approved by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office. 

The projects, in Lee, Hillsborough and Polk counties, are funded through the state’s Water Quality Improvement Grant Program and are geared toward reducing harmful nutrients in Florida’s waterways, according to a statement. In total, the state awarded $210 million for 27 projects. The projects on the west coast of Florida total $39.5 million. 

The awards include septic-to-sewer projects, wastewater treatment upgrades, stormwater projects, wastewater improvement projects and a regional agricultural project, the release adds. The selected projects will reduce total nitrogen loading by more than 1 million cumulative pounds per year, which will help to reduce harmful algal blooms.