After Horrendous Year of Pollution and Sea Grass Loss in Tampa Bay, Rep. Castor and Hillsborough Commissioner Mariella Smith Announce Plans to Protect, Improve Water Quality of Tampa Bay

Press Release

Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) and Hillsborough County Commissioner Mariella Smith announced plans to protect and improve water quality in Tampa Bay. Castor also wrote Florida Senate President Wilton Simpson and State House Speaker Chris Sprowls urging them to partner with local leaders with the resources provided by Congress in the historic Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act as the State Legislature begins the legislative session.

Rep. Castor and Mariella Smith, who also chairs the Hillsborough Environmental Protection Commission, held an event today outlining the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law's provisions to support cleaning up the Tampa Bay and protect Florida's natural resources. Video of this event can be found here.

"The historic bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act ("IIJA") provides the State of Florida and local communities with important new resources to clean up Tampa Bay, and I have highlighted recommendations below. Many of the federal clean water funding initiatives require action by the State and local communities, so I encourage you to act swiftly this session on the many initiatives that will improve the water quality of Tampa Bay and boost our economy.

"The IIJA provides robust new resources to modernize local water and wastewater infrastructure, keep costs down for homeowners and address costly extreme events fueled by the climate crisis. The IIJA permanently requires states to distribute a minimum of 10 percent (and a maximum of 30 percent) of their State Revolving funds to municipalities as grants to increase the affordability of wastewater infrastructure to local communities. The Act also prioritizes investments in green infrastructure as well as water- and energy-efficiency to increase the resiliency of utilities to climate change and address vulnerabilities to man-made or natural disasters and cyberattacks. Importantly, the Act protects local water quality and public health by investing in the repair and replacement of failing septic systems, including communities that currently lack access to adequate sewage treatment systems. An additional focus is needed for failing and poorly maintained private lateral pipes within older communities, which can overwhelm the public sewer systems. Public utilities need support to remove any barriers they might face in addressing leaky pipes on private homeowner properties. I urge you to expedite these resources to local communities," wrote Castor.

The full letter can be read here and below:

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