Section 1452 of the safe drinking water act (SDWA) authorizes the state to utilize funds to further the health protection objectives of SDWA

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) a $77.9 million Formula Grant under the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) program. The grant capitalizes Florida's DWSRF to provide low-interest financing through June 2028 for drinking water infrastructure projects that protect public health. Subawards will fund needed improvements at drinking water treatment plants, distribution systems, wells, storage tanks, and service line inventories for multiple municipalities and utilities across Florida, including the Cities of North Miami, Tavares, Paxton, Crestview, Dania Beach, Perry, and Springfield as well as the Towns of Lake Hamilton and Oakland. The DWSRF funding will increase technical, financial, and managerial capacity of public water systems to ensure a cleaner and safer potable water supply statewide.

This action approves an award in the amount of 70,829,000 to florida department of environmental protection. This agreement will provide funds, authorized by the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) (PL 117-58), to capitalize the recipient's drinking water state revolving fund (DWSRF) to provide low interest financing for costs associated with the planning, design and construction of eligible drinking water improvement projects and activities to protect human health. As part of this agreement, the recipient ensures compliance with federal and state regulations, which are designed to protect public health.activities:the bulk of the SRF will be used for loans and other authorized assistance to public water systems for eligible projects, including improving drinking water treatment, fixing leaky or old pipes (water distribution), improving source of water supply, replacing or constructing finished water storage tanks, and other infrastructure projects needed to protect public health. The recipient may also use some of the funding for specific 'set-asides'; to provide technical assistance to small systems, program administration, state program management and other allowable uses.subrecipient:*subawards will be made for activities such as administering loans for projects, providing technical assistance to small systems, program administration, and state program management. Loan projects outcomes:the benefits of this grant will be to capitalize the recipient's DWSRF. The fund can then be used to increase technical, financial and managerial capacity of public water systems, and provide assurance of a cleaner and safer potable water supply by funding improvements to multiple water infrastructure projects. These public health benefits will be statewide.