Subject:
Title
Approval, Re: Submittal of Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) Grant Applications for Utility Services Projects
End
Fiscal Impact:
There is no immediate fiscal impact associated with submitting the grant applications.
All grant applications are submitted with no match, except:
• Mims Water Treatment Plant Expansion, Upper Floridan Test Supply Wells, $1.1M match.
• Countywide Inflow and Infiltration Prevention, $3M match.
Dept/Office:
Utility Services Department
Requested Action:
Recommendation
It is requested that the Board approve the submission of grant applications to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) under the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Indian River Lagoon Water Quality Improvement Grant, Biscayne Bay Water Quality Improvement Grant, and Alternative Water Supply Grant Program for the projects identified herein.
It is also requested that the Board authorize the County Manager to execute and submit required budget change request (BCR), amend the five-year Capital Improvements Plan (CIP) as it relates to this project, and any documents, reimbursement requests, amendments, or other contractual or administrative actions to the grant contract.
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Summary Explanation and Background:
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) has opened the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 application cycle for the Indian River Lagoon Water Quality Improvement Grant, Biscayne Bay Water Quality Improvement Grant, and Alternative Water Supply Grant Program. Grant applications must be submitted during the application window of July 1 through September 1, 2026. These competitive programs provide funding for projects that improve water quality, reduce nutrient loading, expand wastewater and reclaimed water infrastructure, and develop alternative water supply sources.
Staff have identified the following projects for consideration under the current funding cycle and requests authorization to submit grant applications on the County's behalf:
South Beaches Wastewater Treatment Facility 6 MGD AWT Conversion
This project will convert South Beaches Wastewater Treatment Facility 6 MGD treatment train to advanced wastewater treatment as required by July 1, 2034, per F.S. 403.086(1)(c)3 and provide high-level disinfection for treated effluent disposal through the planned 2nd deep injection well as required per CFR 40 Chapter I, Subchapter D, Part 146. Completion of this project will enhance treatment reliability, improve effluent quality, and support long-term protection of the Indian River Lagoon.
• Project Readiness: 90% design complete.
• Previous Grant Funding Received: $14M
• Remaining Project Cost: $38M
• FDEP Grant Request: $26M
• Utility Services Match Amount: $0
South Beaches 2nd Deep Injection Well
This project serves to install a second deep injection (DIW) well at the South Beaches Wastewater Treatment Facility. This 2nd DIW will reduce the risk of wastewater effluent discharges to the Indian River Lagoon by increasing the wastewater treatment facilities effluent disposal capacity and providing redundancy to the existing DIW. Furthermore, this DIW will eliminate the need for surface water discharges during mechanical integrity tests of the existing DIW as required by FS 403.064(16). Completion of this project will enhance effluent disposal reliability and support long-term protection of the Indian River Lagoon.
• Project Readiness: Design complete.
• Previous Grant Funding Received: $2M
• Remaining Project Cost: $24M
• FDEP Grant Request: $24M
• Utility Services Match Amount: $0
South Beaches Parallel 30-Inch Force Main
This project is part of the Riverside Drive Force Main Improvements and will reduce the risk of sanitary sewer overflows and nonbeneficial surface water discharges to the Indian River Lagoon. Per Florida Administrative Code 62-600.705(2), domestic wastewater facilities shall act to prevent sanitary sewer overflows for all collection and transmission systems under control of the facility.
• Project Readiness: 90% design complete.
• Previous Grant Funding Received: $14M
• Remaining Project Cost: $20M
• FDEP Grant Request: $20M
• Utility Services Match Amount: $0M
Inflow and Infiltration Prevention, Countywide
This project includes wastewater collection system rehabilitation to reduce inflow and infiltration through inspection, testing, sewer main and manhole rehabilitation, targeted pipe replacement, and related repairs to improve system capacity, reliability, and resilience.
• Project Readiness: Implementation-ready.
• Previous Grant Funding Received: $6M
• Remaining Project Cost: $6M
• FDEP Grant Request: $3M
• Utility Services Match Amount: $3M
Mims Water Treatment Plant Expansion, Upper Floridan Test Supply Wells
This project is for the installation of two test supply wells from the Upper Floridan aquifer, an alternative water supply source, for the planned Mims Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment Plant. The installed test supply wells will be utilized as supply wells for the planned reverse osmosis water treatment plant (WTP) in Mims once the WTP construction is completed, will support the long-term water needs of Mims, and help protect Florida water supplies.
• Project Readiness: Design Complete.
• Previous Grant Funding Received: $1.5M
• Remaining Project Cost: $2.2M
• FDEP Grant Request: $1.1M
• Utility Services Match Amount: $1.1M
Board authorization will allow the County to submit timely applications for available state funding to offset project costs and advance implementation of these priority infrastructure and environmental improvement projects. Submission of grant applications does not oblige the County to accept grant funding or proceed with project implementation.
Clerk to the Board Instructions:
E-mail Clerk Memo to karina.perez@brevardfl.gov and mail original memo to Utility Services Department