​The Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department (PBCWUD) is excited to announce that it has received nearly $16 million in grant funding from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) towards critical water utility infrastructure projects serving the western region communities.

PBCWUD was awarded $10M for its Water Treatment Plant 11 (WTP 11) Upgrades Progressive Design-Build project in Belle Glade. As the sole source of potable water and fire suppression supply for the Glades community including the Cities of Belle Glade, South Bay and Pahokee, Resilient Florida grant funding will enhance the resilience of WTP 11 against flooding, implementing a series of flood hardening measures designed to protect critical treatment infrastructure and maintain operational continuity during extreme weather events.

“This critical funding will allow the county to reduce the risk of equipment damage and service disruption during future flood or extreme weather events, ensuring continued delivery of safe, high-quality drinking water and fire suppression capabilities to the western region communities," says County Administrator Joseph Abruzzo.

An additional $5,472,998 was allocated through the program for the utility's Western Region Wastewater Treatment Facility (WRWWTF) Operations Building Replacement in Belle Glade. The project consists of replacing the existing building with a state-of-the-art building, to provide a safer environment for Palm Beach County employees and reliable plant operations during extreme weather or storm events. Currently, the operations building does not conform to current standards and critical systems within the building have the potential for service interruptions.

“Palm Beach County is dedicated to providing best-in-class utility services to its customers in the Glades," says Mayor Baxter. “Funding from the Resilient Florida program will allow the county to upgrade its critical utility infrastructure while providing a state-of-the art environment for employees to deliver services to the community."

For media inquiries, contact Beth Motschenbacher, Public Information Manager: call (561) 493-6000 or email wudpr@pbcwater.com