12/17/2019 (3) - Laserfiche WebLink

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COMPREHENSIVE WATER REFORM/INDIAN RIVER LAGOON WATER QUALITY Excessive discharges from Lake Okeechobee, local stormwater runoff, septic tanks, and land application of biosolids are threats to the health of our waterways. The Florida Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers' 2016 Report Card for Florida's Infrastructure gave Florida low marks for water infrastructure. The assessment pointed to a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency report that estimated that Florida will need to spend about $16.5 billion in drinking water infrastructure improvements over the next 20 years to ensure that drinking water systems in Florida continue to provide safe and reliable drinking water to the public. Concerns related to both drinking water and wastewater infrastructure focused on the significant needs posed by high population growth, aging infrastructure, and sensitive ecological environments. For wastewater, the report highlighted the number of impaired waterbodies and emphasized the importance of improving wastewater standards in addressing those impairments. The report did not directly address flood control, but for stormwater, the report stated the following: Florida's capital improvement needs forstormwater management are estimated to be $1.1 billion through 2019, yet utility fees to upkeep the systems have declined since 2011 while needs will double over the decade. More than half of Florida's stormwater entities revealed an inability to address all capital improvement needs, and only in stormwater utilities stated that today's operation and maintenance capabilities were adequate only to meet the most urgent needs. In 2019, Senator Albritton introduced SB 628 and Representative Jacobs introduced HB 1199 which recognized the necessity of a long-term approach to our state's needs for ample supply and quality to meet our growing population. The bills would have required FDEP to conduct a comprehensive study on statewide needs and quantify appropriate funding amounts and sources. Both bills died in committee. Support legislation intended to assess and regularly report the financial need to address Florida's water infrastructure relating to water supply including conservation, . the protection of water quality, stormwater, wastewater, water reuse, flood control and environmental resource protection and restoration. Support legislation that promotes the identification of potential sources of sufficient funding to address the documented need, as well as, the development of priority and science - based grant programs for the implementation of projects, programs, and studies identified by local governments, the water management districts and state agencies, as well as non-governmental organiziations. Support legislation requiring the assessment and evaluation of state agency efforts to address sea level rise and other weather impacts on the Counties. Support continued funding for research and mitigation for harmful algal blooms (HABs), including blue green algae, and red tide. 177