Wastewater Visibility News
Toho One Water Initiative Receives U.S. EPA $188M Loan for Central Florida Water Infrastructure
August 21, 2024
Wastewater Visibility News
U.S. EPA announces $188 million loan to upgrade and expand water services in central Florida as part of the Toho One Water Initiative.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will provide a $188 million Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan to the Toho Water Authority (Tohopekaliga Water Authority) in central Florida. The purpose of the loan is to modernize water infrastructure in Polk and Osceola counties as part of the Toho One Water Initiative.
The execution of the water services improvements is estimated to create 1,750 jobs, and the impact of the upgrades will benefit approximately 450,000 residents in Osceola County and Polk County. The program’s objectives include delivering cleaner water and creating a robust infrastructure to support the growing populations of the two counties.
Mae Wu, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency deputy assistant administrator for water, stated that the loan will “support public health and environmental protection, population growth, and economic opportunity in Central Florida.”
Toho One Water Initiative
The $188M WIFIA loan expands on a $93M WIFIA loan previously awarded to the Tohopekaliga Water Authority as part of the Toho One Water Initiative. The Initiative focuses on modernizing existing water plants and developing alternative, sustainable water sources to meet projected water needs in growing Osceola County.
In addition to population growth, a June 2021 State of Florida limit imposed on withdrawing water from the Upper Floridan aquifer (previously a key source of water supply for the area) accelerated Toho Water’s need to upgrade pump stations and pipelines and expand reclaimed water management to include more public access reuse irrigation, industrial use, and aquifer recharge.
Related Florida Water Updates from Wastewater Visibility News
- $598 Million for Polk County (Florida) Lower Floridan Aquifer Drilling
- Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Projects Receive Government Funding
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