PALATKA – Forty-three projects will share in approximately $21.3 million from the St. Johns River Water Management District for construction of water supply and water conservation, water quality improvement, flood protection and natural systems restoration projects. The district's governing board approved the project ranking for the fiscal year 2017-2018 Districtwide Annual Cost-share Program.

Projects within Orange County that received funding from the program include:

• Orange County EPD Lake Lawne SW Irrigation Facility at Barnett Park – The project is a stormwater retrofit project to include impoundment in existing Lk Marylin Outfall Canal to capture stormwater from a 300-acre subbasin. The stormwater will be used to irrigate area within Barnett Park, an Orange County Park along Lake Lawne: an urban lake and the upstream-most lake in the Little Wekiva system that flows to the Wekiva River. The project is expected to result in a reduction of approximately 650 lbs/yr TN and 110 lbs/yr TP.
• Lost Lake RV Park WWTP Upgrades – Wastewater Package Plant Upgrade (RV Park) for nutrient (TN) reduction - hookup to municipal system not cost effective for the applicant. Includes a 9,000 gpd ADF modular precast concrete class 3 WWTP. The project will result in the removal of approximately 770 lbs/yr TN from the Wekiva Basin.
• City of Winter Garden Water Conservation Program Expansion (Ph II) – The project involves the expansion to the city ’s current system that manages and communicates water use at the accountlevel, that can provide immediate information to customers to initiate actions with water conservation results. The project is located within the CFWI, will benefit the Springshed and the MFLs of the Wekiva springs, and conserve 0.3 MGD.
• OCU Waterwise Program (New) Phase 2 – The project involves the continuation of the County's water conservation program for new homes. This phase will include up to 300 new homes. The program is voluntary, whereby builders agree to meet certain benchmarks to become as water efficient as possible. The County provides advanced irrigation equipment to the builder. The builder must meet 80% of the Florida Water Star silver level requirements. The project is estimated to result in 0.05 MGD of water conserved.
• Orange County EPD Lake Jennie Jewel Alum Treatment – The project involves in-lake alum treatment (3 separate treatments) of Lake Jennie Jewel, an urban lake in south Orange County. Also, this project includes the installation of a nutrient-separating baffle box (NSBB) on the east lobe of Lake Jennie Jewel. The project will result in the reduction of 45 lbs/yr TN and 1,239 lbs/yr TP.
• OCU Waterwise Program (Retrofit) Phase 2 – The project involves the continuation of the County's water conservation program for existing homes. This phase will include up to 300 existing homes. The program is voluntary, whereby residents agree to meet certain benchmarks to become as water efficient as possible. The County provides advanced irrigation equipment to the resident. The resident must meet 80% of the Florida Water Star silver level requirements. The project is estimated to result in water conservation of 0.03 MGD.
• Winter Garden Reuse Distribution Retrofit – The project includes expansion of the City of Winter Gardens reuse water service to retrofit four subdivisions in the Stoneybrook West community (Reserve at Black Lake, Harbor Crest, Lexington, and Rock Creek subdivisions). 221 properties will be converted from potable water for irrigation to reuse water. The project will result in 0.06 MGD reclaimed water.
• Apopka Cost Share Golden Gem Rd RCW Ext – The project involves the construction of a reclaimed water main the length of Golden Gem Road between Ponkan Road and Kelly Park Road, approx. 10,500 linear feet (LF), a pump station, and reservoir. The project provides an additional capacity of approx. 300 MG and an overall benefit of 5 MGD of reclaimed water.
• OCU Irrigation Conservation Phase 2 – The project involves the continuation of OUC's irrigation conservation program. The project targets high use residential and commercial irrigation customers. Postcards are mailed and free irrigation evaluations are conducted. This project is now also including a toilet rebate program for residential and commercial customers. The project is estimated to result in a water savings of 0.06 MGD.
• Maitland Enhancement System for Water Conservation – The project involves the city-wide upgrade of water meters to AMI, and updating the City software to assist the City in implementing their water conservation program. The project is estimated to result in 0.88 MGD water conserved.