Florida faces a $160.5 billion water infrastructure funding gap through 2040, according to this Florida TaxWatch analysis. The report calls for a strategic 3-5 year work program to prioritize critical water projects, mirroring the state’s successful transportation planning model. Key findings reveal:
- $201.5 billion needed for stormwater/wastewater infrastructure through 2040
- ASCE grades Florida’s water systems: Wastewater (C), Stormwater (C-), Drinking Water (C)
- 910 local water projects ($1.1B) funded via legislative earmarks in past 5 years
- $11.6 billion required for water quality compliance by 2043
The analysis highlights successful models like FDOT’s Five-Year Work Program and the Resilient Florida Grant Program, recommending a coordinated statewide system to:
- Prioritize projects using objective criteria
- Create multi-year funding certainty
- Require local matching funds (waived for disadvantaged communities)
- Integrate 268 annual member projects into structured planning
With water demand projected to outpace supply by 14% by 2040, the report urges adoption of a strategic funding mechanism to address Florida’s $90.5 billion unfunded water infrastructure needs.