Governor Ron DeSantis has announced over $389 million in state funding to advance water quality and supply projects throughout Florida. The funding package includes $189 million for water quality improvements, $55 million for alternative water supply initiatives, and an additional $145 million targeting restoration efforts in key ecosystems.
Major allocations include $100 million for 25 projects under the new Indian River Lagoon Protection Program, $25 million for the Caloosahatchee Watershed Grant Program, and $20 million for Biscayne Bay water quality efforts. In total, 31 high-priority projects were selected from 348 applications, with estimated annual nutrient reductions of 1.1 million pounds of nitrogen and 286,000 pounds of phosphorus.
The state also awarded $55 million to support 14 alternative water supply projects expected to produce more than 40 million gallons of water daily within two years. These efforts include reclaimed water expansion, aquifer recharge, and water conservation technologies.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection administers the programs. Since 2019, nearly $2.9 billion has been awarded across 1,098 community projects aimed at enhancing the state’s water resilience.