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Politics

Miami-Dade Gets $99.7 Million Water Infrastructure Loan from the EPA

April 5, 2019 - 1:45pm
Andrew Wheeler Friday in Miami-Dade
Andrew Wheeler Friday in Miami-Dade

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler visited South Florida Friday to announce a $99.7 million Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan to Miami-Dade County to finance much-needed advanced wastewater infrastructure upgrades. The money will finance 14 new injection wells.

With EPA’s WIFIA loan, Miami‐Dade Water and Sewer Department will construct deep injection wells at its three wastewater treatment plants to allow for the redirecting of treated wastewater from the ocean outfalls to these wells. This project is required to be completed by 2025 to comply with the State of Florida’s ocean outfall legislation. This project will also increase availability of reclaimed water for potential reuse, reduce sanitary sewer overflows for the county’s 2.3 million residents, increase capacity for the management of peak wet weather flows, and meet advanced wastewater treatment levels.

U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart and Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Giménez joined Wheeler for the announcement at the South District Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Watch a video recording of the announcement below.

“EPA’s nearly $100 million WIFIA loan to Miami-Dade County will help construct advanced wastewater treatment technologies that will protect our oceans and beaches while creating valuable jobs,” said the EPA's Wheeler. “Through the WIFIA program, EPA is fulfilling several of President Trump’s top priorities simultaneously: upgrading our nation’s water infrastructure, protecting water resources, and creating well-paying jobs."

Gov. Ron DeSantis praised the president's commitment to helping Florida.

“President Trump’s administration continues to demonstrate its commitment to helping address Florida’s unique water challenges,” said DeSantis. “These federal dollars being released by the EPA will ... help protect the water supply for millions of Floridians for generations to come. We continue to do our part at the state level to push for historic investments to protect and restore our environment and water quality.”

Said Diaz-Balart, “As an appropriator, I know how significant the WIFIA loan is to localities across the nation, and I know first-hand how far these dollars will go in our community. Not only will this loan save the county nearly $30 million while improving critical infrastructure, but it will also create approximately 95 new jobs - thereby boosting our local economy. I thank Administrator Andrew Wheeler for his commitment to our nation, and for the signing of this loan. I look forward to the execution of this project and seeing its tremendous impact in Miami-Dade County.”

Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Noah Valenstein said, “This substantial funding and support from Administrator Wheeler and EPA is an important step forward as Miami-Dade County works to upgrade its wastewater infrastructure to eliminate its ocean outfall. We appreciate the EPA and county’s commitment to improving Florida’s water quality and improving critical infrastructure.”

Miami-Dade County’s project is estimated to cost $203.5 million. EPA’s WIFIA loan will finance nearly half of that amount -- up to $99.7 million. Additionally, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection will finance approximately $59.8 million from its State Revolving Fund. Because both the WIFIA program and the Florida State Revolving Fund loan program offer low interest rates, the county is expected to realize significant cost savings. The WIFIA loan alone will save Miami-Dade County an estimated $15.7 million compared to typical bond issuance. Project construction and operations are expected to create 95 jobs.

On March 29, 2019, EPA announced the availability of funding to provide an estimated $6 billion in WIFIA loans in 2019. Leveraging private capital and other funding sources, these projects could support $12 billion in water infrastructure investment and create more than 180,000 jobs. This year’s Notice of Funding Availability highlights the agency’s priority to finance projects that are ready for construction in three key areas: reducing exposure to lead and addressing emerging contaminants in drinking water systems; updating aging infrastructure; and implementing water reuse and recycling. EPA will accept letters of interest from prospective borrowers until Friday, July 5.

To date EPA has issued eight loans totaling over $2 billion in WIFIA credit assistance to help finance over $4 billion for water infrastructure projects and create over 6,000 jobs. EPA has invited an additional 42 projects in 17 states and D.C. to apply for a WIFIA loan. These 38 borrowers will receive WIFIA loans totaling approximately $5.5 billion to help finance nearly $11 billion in water infrastructure investments and create 172,000 jobs.

For more information about the WIFIA program, click here

Comments

There are better ways than injection wells. Waste of taxpayers money

Please enlighten us on your more efficient ways to handle this treated water.

At some point, all these injection wells being filled with waste water are bound to pollute all the pure water in the aquifer. The main cities in this state really need to begin building desalinization facilities ... or ... super-treating all that waster water to a much higher standard than is currently acceptable.

It is clean water they are injecting in the ground. Please do some research on how a Water Reclamation (wastewater) Facility works before throwing out blanket statements that have no scientific relevance. The significant groundwater withdrawals from farmers allows sea water to creep inland, causing significant impacts to ground water quality. These wells are a greater benefit you know.

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