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Winter Haven to request FDEP SRF hurricane-relief funds for wastewater plant consolidation and resilience projects
Summary
City staff will submit a ranked application to Florida DEP for Clean Water State Revolving Fund hurricane-relief funding seeking up to $94.3 million across three projects; staff expects a likely award in the $20–$40 million range and prioritized funds for decommissioning Wastewater Plant 2 and transferring flow to Plant 3.
The Winter Haven City Commission authorized staff to submit an application to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for hurricane-relief funding from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF), targeting infrastructure projects tied to storm resilience and wastewater system consolidation.
City staff said the funding stems from U.S. EPA supplemental appropriations for hurricane recovery and resilience and would be administered through Florida's SRF programs. Staff ranked three city projects for the application: first, decommissioning Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) No. 2 and building a transfer/master pump station ($33,709,521); second, a new force main from WWTP No. 2 to Lift Station 1050 ($52,701,250); and third, headworks improvements at WWTP No. 3 ($7,880,113). The combined requested amount was $94,290,884.
City Manager (name not specified) said that because Winter Haven's per-capita income qualifies the municipality for high forgiveness potential, the city will seek full loan forgiveness where possible; staff cautioned the state is unlikely to award the full requested sum and estimated an award more likely in the $20 million to $40 million range. The projects are included in the city's five-year capital improvement plan; staff said the application deadline was June 30 and required commission authorization before filing because the commission will not meet again before the deadline.
The commission approved submission of the application. Staff said the prioritized projects respond to hurricane-induced power loss at WWTP No. 2 and the city's policy of consolidating treatment onto the more resilient Plant No. 3. If awarded, grant or forgiveness funds would offset capital costs identified in the five-year CIP.
No financial commitment is required to file the application. Staff will report results to the commission if awards are granted and will bring follow-up actions for each project as needed.
