Water Quality Improvement Grant

The Water Quality Improvement Grant, offered by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, aims to enhance water quality by funding projects that address wastewater, stormwater, and agricultural nutrient sources. Eligible applicants include local governments and nonprofits, focusing on projects that improve water bodies not meeting nutrient standards. Priority is given to initiatives demonstrating significant nutrient reduction, project readiness, and cost-effectiveness. This grant supports vital environmental restoration efforts across Florida.

This grant is available to local governments and nonstate entities to address wastewater (including septic-to-sewer), stormwater and agricultural sources of nutrients in water bodies. These eligible waterbodies are not attaining nutrient or nutrient-related standards; have an established total maximum daily load; or are located within a basin management action plan area, a reasonable assurance plan area, an accepted alternative restoration plan area, or a rural area of opportunity.

Eligibility

Eligible project proposals must be submitted by nonstate entities. Typically, this means local governments, universities or nonprofit organizations. Eligible projects include:Connecting onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems (OSTDS) to central sewer facilities.

Upgrading domestic wastewater treatment facilities to advanced waste treatment or greater.
Repairing, upgrading, expanding or constructing stormwater treatment facilities that result in improvements to surface water or groundwater quality.Repairing, upgrading, expanding or constructing domestic wastewater treatment facilities that result in improvements to surface water or groundwater quality, including domestic wastewater reuse and collection systems.Projects identified pursuant to section 403.067(7)(a) or (7)(e), Florida Statutes (F.S.).
Projects identified in a wastewater treatment plan or an onsite sewage treatment and disposal system remediation plan developed pursuant to section 403.067(7)(a)9. a. and b, F.S.Projects listed in a city or county capital improvement element pursuant to section 163.3177(3)(a)4. b, F.S.Where central sewerage is not available, retrofitting OSTDS to upgrade such systems to enhanced nutrient-reducing OSTDS (that is, a system capable of meeting or exceeding a 50 percent total nitrogen reduction before disposal of wastewater in the drainfield, or at least 65 percent total nitrogen reduction combined from onsite sewage tank or tanks and drainfield.)To be eligible for funding, a project must improve the quality of waters that: Are not attaining nutrient or nutrient-related standards;
Have an established total maximum daily load; or,
Are located within a basin management action plan area, a reasonable assurance plan area adopted by final order, an accepted alternative restoration plan area or located within a rural area of opportunity.