Lake Bonny Storm Water Outfall Retrofit Project Receives Grant
Lakeland, Florida, has been awarded a State Water Quality Assistance Grant in the amount of $280,000 from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) for the Lake Bonny Stormwater Outfall Retrofit Project.
The FDEP’s Nonpoint Source Management Program administers the initiative to provide local government funding for projects, some of which impacts water pollution from nonpoint sources. Nonpoint source pollution causes nutrient, sediment, and fertilizer contamination that enters storm water runoff and enters surface water bodies, reported the city’s website.
The project includes the installation of a nutrient separating pollution control device installed at an outfall to Lake Bonny on the north side of North Crystal Lake Drive near its intersection with US Highway 98 North. The goal is to remove sediment, nutrients, and floatable trash entering Lake Bonny from the storm water outfall at this location.
According to the city’s website, Lake Bonny does not meet current water quality standards due to elevated levels of nutrients and the city has mandated Total Maximum Daily Load nutrient reduction requirement as a result.
The main source of nutrients to Lake Bonny is through storm water discharge from outfalls, reported the city, and the Lake Bonny Stormwater Outfall Retrofit Project is using an outfall that contributes significant nonpoint source nutrient loads to the lake.
The project includes permitting, construction, and installation of an underground PCD with nutrient removal through innovative biosorption filters and baffle boxes.
The project goals are to remove sediment and trash from the storm water flow before it enters the lake.
The project is scheduled to start the fall of 2022 and will take approximately three months to complete, reported the city.