Subject:
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Subrecipient Agreement with the Tampa Bay Estuary Program for the County’s Priority Septic-to-Sewer Conversion Initiative funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act through the Environmental Protection Agency.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval and execution by the County Administrator of the Subrecipient Agreement with the Tampa Bay Estuary Program (TBEP) for the County’s Priority Septic-to-Sewer Conversion Initiative funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
• TBEP is awarding $454,900.00 to the County to address aging wastewater infrastructure issues and reduce contributions of nutrient loads to the Tampa Bay Estuary.
• TBEP included the project in the agency’s IIJA workplan utilizing funds received from the 2025 IIJA funding year.
• Project will prioritize approximately 15 properties in the 100-year floodplain with septic systems within the County’s service area and within 100 feet of the existing central sewer in underserved communities (maps attached).
• Federal pass-through grant, which the County is a subrecipient of, requires we comply with all EPA General Terms and Conditions in the Agreement.
• Grant funds will be receipted to Septic-to-Sewer Conversions in Underserved Communities (Project ID 006830A), included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-2031 Proposes Capital Improvement Plan, funded by TBEP local grant in the amount of $455,000.00
Amount to be awarded to the County is $454,900.00. The agreement shall end on September 30,2027.
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Strategic Priorities:
Resilient Infrastructure and Environment
1.2 Maintain and enhance County infrastructure
1.6 Ensure sustainable water management
Healthy and Safe Communities
2.1 Improve public health
2.2 Enhance community safety
Summary:
The TBEP is awarding $454,900.00 to the County to address aging wastewater infrastructure issues and reduce contributions of nutrient loads to the Tampa Bay estuary. The TBEP included the project in its IIJA workplan utilizing funds received from the 2025 IIJA funding year. The objective of the project is to address aging wastewater infrastructure issues and reduce contributions of nutrient loads to the Tampa Bay estuary through the implementation of a program to convert and connect residential septic systems within unincorporated County to the County’s Utilities wastewater collection system.
Background/Explanation:
Leaky septic systems are a major threat to the quality of the County peninsula’s surrounding waterbodies and wildlife habitat. Additionally, excess nutrients emanating from any source directly along the Gulf Coast can exacerbate red tide events, which affect quality of life, public health, and tourism. The project will prioritize approximately fifteen (15) properties in the 100-year floodplain with septic systems within 100 feet of the existing central sewer system. Areas of strategic importance and vulnerability will be targeted, including those areas with high total maximum daily loads of nutrients. A County ordinance requires property owners within 100 feet of central sewer service to run a line to the sewer system. This program targets those properties within the 100-foot radius of the County sanitary sewer service and identified within sensitive ecosystems and problematic nutrient areas. The funding will be directed to underserved communities in the County’s priority locations.
Fiscal Impact:
This is a multi-year reimbursement grant project that will impact Fiscal Years (FY) 2026-2027, with the possibility of extending the agreement end date beyond FY2027 if necessary. Grant funds will be receipted to Septic-to-Sewer Conversions in Underserved Communities project 006830A, included in the FY26-FY31 Proposed Capital Improvement Plan, funded by TBEP local grants in the amount of $455,000.00.
Delegated Authority:
Authority for the County Administrator to sign this agreement is granted under Code Section 2-62 (a)(1).
Staff Member Responsible:
Jeremy Waugh, Director, Utilities
Partners:
EPA
TBEP
Attachments:
Subrecipient Agreement with Exhibits A-C, Lobbying Certification, and Debarment and Suspension Certification
Parcels Locations Map
TBEP Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Work Plan