Indian River Lagoon Water Quality Improvements Grant Program

The Indian River Lagoon Water Quality Improvements Grant Program is administered by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. For the Fiscal Year 2026-27 grant proposal request, the Department uses a combined water quality improvement grants portal that includes both the Indian River Lagoon and Biscayne Bay programs. Applicants are encouraged to apply for each grant program for which they are eligible, but a separate application must be submitted for each eligible grant program. This entry concerns only the Indian River Lagoon Water Quality Improvements Grant Program. The Florida Legislature appropriated $25 million for this program for Fiscal Year 2026-27. Additional funding may become available when previously awarded projects are cancelled or completed under budget. The program supports projects that improve water quality for the Indian River Lagoon. Eligible projects include connecting onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems, or OSTDS, to central sewer facilities and upgrading domestic wastewater treatment facilities to advanced waste treatment or greater. Funding may also support the repair, upgrade, expansion, or construction of stormwater treatment facilities that result in improvements to surface water or groundwater quality. Domestic wastewater treatment facilities may likewise be repaired, upgraded, expanded, or constructed when the work results in surface water or groundwater quality improvements, including domestic wastewater reuse and collection systems. Where central sewerage is unavailable, projects may retrofit OSTDS to enhanced nutrient-reducing OSTDS or another equivalent wastewater system that achieves a 65 percent reduction in total nitrogen. Other types of projects that improve water quality for the Indian River Lagoon may also qualify. Special cost restrictions apply to septic-to-sewer projects. Eligible costs are limited to tangible activities involved in conversion to sewer, including sewer construction, septic abandonment, laying lateral connections, and connection by a licensed plumber or contractor. Impact fees, which may also be called infrastructure or capital fees, and similar fees are not eligible costs. Septic-to-sewer projects are not eligible for grant funding when connections are not required. If a selected project makes sewer connections available to properties currently served by OSTDS, notification must be provided regarding sewer availability and the requirement to connect within 365 days of notification pursuant to section 381.00655, Florida Statutes. Proof of this notice will be required under the grant agreement after construction completion and before final reimbursement. The Department does not establish a minimum or maximum grant request amount for the program. It states, however, that most awards are between $500,000 and $6 million. These figures represent the typical award range rather than formal minimum and maximum award limits. There is no required match. Nevertheless, local cost share is considered during project selection, and the local cost share becomes a reporting requirement when a project is selected. Funding availability is contingent upon annual appropriation by the Florida Legislature. Work performed before July 1, 2026, is not eligible for grant reimbursement, and the funding does not have a set expiration date. The Department prioritizes projects that achieve effective nutrient load reductions, demonstrate project readiness, and are cost-effective. It also considers whether an applicant has identified a cost share, except for rural areas of opportunity. Priority is additionally given to projects located where reductions are needed most to attain the water quality standards of a waterbody that is not attaining nutrient or nutrient-related standards. These criteria indicate that applicants should clearly demonstrate measurable water quality benefits, readiness to proceed, cost effectiveness, and the project's relationship to identified nutrient reduction needs. The FAQ does not identify specific organizational applicant categories for the Indian River Lagoon program and instead refers generally to entities applying for each grant program for which they are eligible. There is no limit on the number of project proposals an applicant may submit. Applications are submitted through ProtectingFloridaTogether.gov/Grants, and separate applications are required when a project or applicant is eligible for multiple grant programs. A PDF version of the application questions is to be available alongside the webform for informational purposes, but the PDF cannot be submitted in place of the webform. The FAQ does not provide an application opening date, application deadline, pre-application requirement, named program contact, email address, or telephone number. There is also no set date for award announcements; applicants may sign up through the Water Quality Dashboard Preference Center for updates.

Demonstrate effective nutrient load reductions, project readiness, and cost-effectiveness. Identify local cost share where available because it is considered during project selection, except for rural areas of opportunity. Demonstrate that reductions are needed at the project location to attain water quality standards for a waterbody not attaining nutrient or nutrient-related standards. For septic-to-sewer projects, ensure connections are required and exclude impact, infrastructure, capital, and similar fees from eligible costs.