Last week, U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., applauded the approval of a $105 million low-interest rate loan to the Bee Ridge Water Reclamation Facility (BRWRF) Expansion and Wastewater Treatment Conversion Project from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
This loan will be used to upgrade existing infrastructure to state-of-the-art water treatment technology.
“Clean water is critical to our economy and quality of life here on the Suncoast,” said Buchanan “These innovative upgrades to the BRWRF will be a significant improvement to our local water infrastructure and serve my constituents in the area with more sustainable, cleaner water.”
Financing for the expansion and conversion project was provided by the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program. Funds will be used to construct new facilities, utilities and on-site infrastructure and to demolish existing facilities, including secondary clarifiers and deep bed filters. Upgrades of this caliber have not previously been developed in Florida.
In December 2020, Buchanan sent a letter to EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler urging the EPA consider Sarasota County’s request for WIFIA financing to improve water quality at BRWRF. BRWRF is a 143-acre facility located solely in Florida’s 16th congressional district. Upgrades to the BRWRF will benefit 90,980 Sarasota County residents in Buchanan’s district.
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