Water Infrastructure Projects are Vital

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.