Charlotte County approves $1.9m flood modeling network, wastewater compliance contract

Charlotte County approves $1.9m flood modeling network, wastewater compliance contractThe Board of County Commissioners authorized a state-funded flood monitoring initiative and a regulatory services agreement with Kimley-Horn, while Charlotte County Utilities received top state honors for its water distribution system.

The Board unanimously approved a $1.9 million FDEP grant to establish a Compound Flood Modeling and Response Network with the University of Florida.

Kimley-Horn was awarded a $250,000 contract to provide regulatory compliance services for the county's wastewater and reclaimed water systems.

Charlotte County Utilities was recognized by the AWWA for its distribution system, which delivers 11 million gallons per day to over 60,000 connections.

The Charlotte County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved a slate of water and stormwater infrastructure items during its recent meeting, advancing flood resilience and wastewater compliance efforts. Passed as part of the consent agenda, the county authorized a $1.9 million initiative to establish a Compound Flood Modeling and Response Network. The six-year project, funded by a grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), will be executed in partnership with the University of Florida. The network is designed to track current flood events and assess future flood risks to communities within the county. The Board also approved a $250,000 contract with Kimley-Horn for regulatory compliance services targeting the county's wastewater and reclaimed water systems. The expenditure will be funded through utility rate revenues. Alongside the project approvals, Charlotte County Utilities (CCU) received the Outstanding Water Distribution System Award from the Florida Section of the American Water Works Association (AWWA). Richard Anderson, representing the AWWA, noted that the utility delivers an average of 11 million gallons of water daily to more than 60,000 homes and businesses. The award recognized CCU's performance in system maintenance, cross-connection control, and water quality management. Additionally, during the public comment period, resident Mike Ferrara urged the county to consider implementing smart water rebates for irrigation to promote water conservation, noting that irrigation remains a primary source of water waste in the region.