The Story
According to WKMG News 6 (ClickOrlando), the Groveland City Council used a November 2 special meeting to advance about $26.76 million in water and wastewater funding. The largest piece adopts a Clean Water Facilities Plan aimed at reducing inflow and infiltration in the city's sanitary sewer system and gives the city access to an existing grant of nearly $20 million through FDEP's State Revolving Fund program, tied to federal disaster recovery assistance for Hurricanes Ian and Fiona.
Council also approved a $7.76 million drinking water agreement split between $3.88 million in grant funding and $3.88 million in 0% loan funding. WKMG reported that design is expected to take about a year, with construction tied to the new financing extending into 2028 and 2029.
The action follows a run of service problems this year, including a July boil water notice and three significant disruptions in September, WKMG reported. The city also has a $675,000 state funded CCTV inspection covering about 35,000 linear feet of sewer around downtown, announced in September.
Source: WKMG News 6 (ClickOrlando), Groveland advances nearly $27M in water, sewer funding to prevent future outages, November 2, 2026
The infraTerra Take
Groveland is working in the right order, and other small Florida utilities should copy the sequence: inspect, plan, then fund construction. A facilities plan that names I&I as the target is what lets recovery money flow into collection system work instead of only into plants and pumps.
The detail worth noticing is the funding path. Hurricane recovery dollars routed through the SRF program are reaching sewer collection systems here. Utilities that saw flows spike during recent storms should check whether recovery-linked SRF money is available to them and whether their planning documents already identify I&I as a need. A plan on file is what makes a project fundable.
For contractors, about a year of design would put this work in front of bidders well before construction runs into 2028 and 2029 under the city's timeline. The downtown CCTV footage being gathered now is the first real look at defect types, and it should shape whether the scope leans toward lining, manhole rehab, point repairs or replacement. Watch that data before pricing anything.
For residents, the council paused a planned 10% water rate increase in October for 60 days. Grant-heavy financing helps, but the 0% loan portion still has to be repaid, and the documents WKMG reviewed did not set a repayment schedule or bill impact. Our I&I ROI Calculator lays out how to compare the cost of removing clear water against the cost of treating it.
What to Watch
- When the paused 10% water rate increase returns to council after its 60 day hold
- Release of findings from the downtown CCTV inspection and how they shape the I&I project scope
- Selection of a design firm and the first bid package under the Clean Water Facilities Plan
