$844,671,000

DESCRIPTION:THIS ACTION PROVIDES FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $844,671,000 TO FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION. SECTION 1452 OF THE SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT (SDWA) AUTHORIZES THE STATE TO UTILIZE FUNDS TO FURTHER THE HEALTH PROTECTION OBJECTIVES OF SDWA. THIS PROJECT FUNDS TO CAPITALIZE THE RECIPIENT'S DRINKING WATER STATE REVOLVING FUND (DWSRF) AS PRINCIPAL FORGIVENESS LOANS, NEGATIVE INTEREST LOANS, OR GRANTS FOR COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PLANNING, DESIGN, AND CONSTRUCTION OF ELIGIBLE DRINKING WATER IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES TO PROTECT HUMAN HEALTH. AS PART OF THIS AGREEMENT, THE RECIPIENT ENSURES COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL AND STATE REGULATIONS, WHICH ARE DESIGNED TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH. SYSTEMS DAMAGED BY THE 2024 HURRICANES HELENE OR MILTON OR THE 2023 HAWAI'I WILDFIRES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR USE OF THESE FUNDS. ACTIVITIES:THE DWSRF WILL BE USED FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS FOR ELIGIBLE PROJECTS, INCLUDING IMPROVING DRINKING WATER TREATMENT, WATER DISTRIBUTION, IMPROVING SOURCE OF WATER SUPPLY, REPLACING OR CONSTRUCTING FINISHED WATER STORAGE TANKS, AND OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS NEEDED TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH. THE RECIPIENT MAY ALSO USE SOME OF THE FUNDING FOR SPECIFIC 'SET-ASIDES' TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO SMALL SYSTEMS, PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION, STATE PROGRAM MANAGEMENT AND OTHER ALLOWABLE USES. PROJECTS AND SET-ASIDE FUNDS MUST HELP TO REDUCE A SYSTEM'S FLOOD OR FIRE DAMAGE RISK AND VULNERABILITY AND/OR TO ENHANCE RESILIENCY TO RAPID HYDROLOGIC CHANGE OR NATURAL DISASTERS. SUBRECIPIENT:SUBAWARDS OR LOANS IN THE AMOUNT OF $844,671,000 TO BE DETERMINED FOR COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF FLORIDA FOCUSING ON RECOVERY EFFORTS RELATED TO HURRICANE HELENE AND MILTON.OUTCOMES:THE BENEFITS OF THIS GRANT WILL BE TO CAPITALIZE THE RECIPIENT'S DWSRF. THE FUND CAN THEN BE USED TO INCREASE TECHNICAL, FINANCIAL, AND MANAGERIAL CAPACITY OF PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS, AND PROVIDE ASSURANCE OF A CLEANER, SAFER, AND MORE RESILIENT POTABLE WATER SUPPLY BY FUNDING IMPROVEMENTS TO MULTIPLE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. THE FUNDS WILL ASSIST IN REBUILDING MORE RESILIENT WATER SYSTEMS FOLLOWING THE DAMAGE FROM HURRICANE HELENE, HURRICANE MILTON, OR THE 2023 HAWAI'I WILDFIRES. THESE PUBLIC HEALTH BENEFITS WILL BE STATEWIDE.

Verbatim from USAspending.gov. Capitalization, abbreviations, and codes are unchanged.