CRYSTAL RIVER, FL, Oct. 28, 2026 —
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday awarded $100 million across 45 projects meant to restore Florida's springs and expand the state's water supply, his office announced.
The money comes from the state's Springs Restoration and Alternative Water Supply grant programs, according to the governor's news release. DeSantis made the announcement in Crystal River and posted about it on his official X account.
"These strategic investments will build on the progress we've made in protecting our natural resources and improving water quality in communities across Florida, so that we can leave this state to God better than we found it," DeSantis said in the release.
$50 million for springs
According to the governor's office, $50 million will go to 23 springs restoration projects, mostly wastewater upgrades, that together are expected to cut more than 55,000 pounds of total nitrogen a year. Awards named in the release include:
- Citrus County: $3 million for a septic-to-sewer conversion and upgrade project benefiting Chassahowitzka-Homosassa Springs and Kings Bay and Crystal River Springs.
- Suwannee River Water Management District: $3 million to buy the Suwannee Sandhill Tract – Drew Property, benefiting the Middle and Lower Suwannee River Basin.
- DeLand: $3 million for a regional pump station and sewer extension, benefiting the Volusia Blue Springshed.
- Volusia County: $4 million for a septic upgrade incentive program to help homeowners add nitrogen-reducing enhancements, benefiting DeLeon Spring.
The office says Florida has invested $480 million in springs restoration since 2019, with an estimated reduction of about 900,000 pounds of total nitrogen a year.
$50 million for alternative water supply
The other $50 million goes to 22 projects that the governor's office says will produce more than 60 million gallons of water a day by expanding reclaimed water, aquifer recharge and conservation. Awards named in the release include:
- Polk County: $12.6 million to seven communities, working with the Polk Regional Water Cooperative, to add brackish water to their supplies.
- Tampa Bay Water: $10 million to expand surface water treatment capacity by 12.5 million gallons a day.
- Reclaimed water: $19.1 million for six projects, including reuse expansion at Fort Myers' Central Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility and transmission expansion in Apopka.
The Legislature has appropriated $385 million for the alternative water supply program since 2019, including Wednesday's awards, according to the release.
Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Alexis A. Lambert said in the release that the department "will continue to work cooperatively with local communities to secure the sustainable clean water supply that is critical for Florida's future."
What Floridians should know
The full list of Fiscal Year 2026-27 water quality and supply grant projects is posted at ProtectingFloridaTogether.gov/Grants, according to the governor's office.
Launchpad Digital has asked the Executive Office of the Governor and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for comment and will update this story when they respond.
Those are the facts, directly from the source.
Sources: Executive Office of the Governor news release (Oct. 28, 2026); Gov. Ron DeSantis's official X account (Oct. 28, 2026).
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