Pompano Beach to seek $30M in DEP SRF loans for PFAS compliance; some principal forgiveness expected
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Summary
The city authorized applications to Florida's Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving Fund programs to finance nano-filtration, deep injection wells and related work to meet EPA/Florida PFAS standards scheduled for 2029. Staff said the financing package includes loan forgiveness and will be supplemented by 2024 bond proceeds.
The Pompano Beach City Commission on Oct. 28 authorized city staff to apply for multiple Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) State Revolving Fund (SRF) loans to finance upgrades to the water-treatment system aimed at complying with forthcoming PFAS limits.
Utilities Director Renuka Mohammed told commissioners the department would seek a drinking-water loan of $30 million to build out the city's nanofiltration facility and other Phase 1 upgrades; staff said roughly 20% of that loan (about $6 million) would be forgiven under the program and the remaining amount financed at a below-market rate for up to 20 years. Mohammed said the loan application deadline is Dec. 11, 2025.
The utilities team also requested authorization to apply for Clean Water SRF funding to construct a second deep injection well for concentrate disposal associated with the treatment upgrades; staff said a companion SRF loan includes 100% principal forgiveness for a separate component of the project. The department will supplement SRF financing with 2024 bond proceeds that the commission previously authorized.
Mohammed described the work as essential to meet state and federal PFAS standards expected to be in force in 2029 and said the package is consistent with the city's strategic plan to invest in drinking-water infrastructure. The commission approved the loan-application resolutions unanimously.
What the city will pay: Staff said terms include below-market interest rates and multi-decade repayment periods for financed amounts; specific repayment schedules will be set when loans are executed.
What happens next: Staff will submit complete SRF applications by the state deadline, and if accepted the city will return to the commission to accept loan agreements and finalize financing; the utilities department committed to return periodic progress reports on treatment construction and PFAS-removal milestones.