Two REDI community projects to share $1 million for water quality improvements

REDI project summary

REDI project summaryPALATKA, Fla., Dec. 10, 2019 — The St. Johns River Water Management District Governing Board on Tuesday approved two projects in Flagler County to share $1 million in district cost-share funds for economically disadvantaged communities or innovative technologies. The cities of Bunnell and Flagler Beach will each receive $500,000 for water quality improvement projects.

“I’m looking forward to partnering on two important projects that will help improve and protect water resources in these communities,” said St. Johns River Water Management District Executive Director Dr. Ann Shortelle. “Together we can do great things.”

The cities are receiving funding from the fiscal year 2019–2020 cost-share program for Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) communities and for projects that use innovative technology to provide data supporting future permitting and full-scale implementation of alternative water supplies.

The city of Bunnell project is a water quality improvement project that adds slip lining inside nearly 3 miles of existing clay pipe in the city’s wastewater treatment system. The project is expected to reduce annual nutrient loading to Black Branch Creek and Haw Creek by approximately 200 pounds of total nitrogen and 30 pounds of total phosphorus. Cost of the project is $500,000.

The Flagler Beach award is also a water quality improvement slip-lining project within approximately 5 miles of existing clay pipe in the city’s wastewater treatment system. The project is estimated to reduce annual nutrient loading to the Matanzas River by approximately 540 pounds of total nitrogen and 440 pounds of total phosphorus. Project cost is $500,000.

The district’s cost-share program seeks to partner on projects that benefit one or more of the district’s core missions of water supply, water quality, natural systems restoration or flood protection.

For information about district cost-share program funding, visit www.sjrwmd.com/funding/.