Hillsborough County receives $6.1M state Water Quality Improvement Grant for sewer projects

The State of Florida has announced the award of $210 million through the Water Quality Improvement Grant Program for 27 statewide projects that will reduce harmful nutrients in Florida’s waterways.

The awards include septic-to-sewer projects, wastewater treatment upgrades, stormwater projects, wastewater improvement projects and a regional agricultural project.

“These awards will help keep our waterways clean for residents and visitors to enjoy," said Governor Ron DeSantis.

These grants assist communities across the state with funding projects to improve and restore impaired waterbodies. The selected projects will reduce total nitrogen loading by more than 1 million cumulative pounds per year, which will help to reduce harmful algal blooms.

Hillsborough County is launching a program to protect groundwater and improve the quality of the region’s natural systems by eliminating septic tanks and low-pressure sewer systems in areas around the bay. Homes and businesses in these areas that currently use septic or low-pressure systems will be converted to the County’s central collection system, a program frequently referred to as septic-to-sewer or S2S.

A list of all projects selected for funding for Fiscal Year 2023-24 can be found here.