Staff Reports
Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) recently received a $22.5 million grant through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
The funds will go toward the Main Street Water Reclamation Facility Enhanced Nutrient Removal and Expansion Project. The facility will be modernized to improve nutrient removal and accommodate future growth in the community by expanding its capacity from 7.5 million gallons per day to 10 million gallons.
The project is set to begin in 2024 in conjunction with Sweetwater Wetlands Park to improve water quality and provide clean water to Paynes Prairie.
“We are grateful to Governor DeSantis and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for providing this funding to help us in this important project to protect water quality,” said GRU General Manager Tony Cunningham in the release. “This project helps ensure that we can continue to provide safe and reliable utility services while also benefiting the environment.”
The state’s Wastewater Grant Program provided the funds, which included more than $240 million in awards to 36 wastewater-related projects. GRU received the second-largest award.
Originally built in 1930 and remodeled and expanded in the 1950s, the Main Street Water Reclamation Facility is one of two GRU wastewater treatment facilities.