District grant allows town of Jay to upgrade water system

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HAVANA – More than $160,000 in grant funding from the Northwest Florida Water Management District helped the town of Jay upgrade its water system with more than 4,500 linear feet of waterline.

The funding, part of the District’s Water Supply Development Grant program, allowed the town to eliminate a number of dead-end water lines and create a looped system that will improve water quality, water system capacity, and water pressure.

The new looped system will also reduce water loss for the town, located in Santa Rosa County.

“Our Water Supply Development Grant program has made positive impacts in so many smaller communities in northwest Florida,” said District Governing Board member Gus Andrews. “The District is proud to work with the community leaders in Jay to not only improve water quality for the residents but to also protect our area’s natural resources.”

The new waterline was installed along Booker Lane, Spring Street, School Street, and Max Lane. Total cost of the project is $ 162,955.88.

“I am extremely excited to see the Town of Jay be named a grant recipient again this year,” said Representative Jayer Williamson, whose district includes part of Santa Rosa County. “A quality water supply is essential for a higher quality of life and I am thankful for the water management district’s commitment to rural communities across northwest Florida.”

This marks the second project the town of Jay has completed with funding from the Water Supply Development Grant program.

In February 2016, the District provided $687,024 to upgrade more than 10,000 linear feet of water mains throughout the town’s water system. The upgraded water mains improved water quality and water pressure within the system while also reducing water loss.

“The Water Supply Development Grant program came in extremely handy for the town of Jay to help us replace all those lines and increase our water volume,” Jay mayor Kurvin Qualls said. “It was very important to us and we are appreciative.”

For more information on the District’s Water Supply Development Grant program, please visit https://nwfwp.sgssys.info//Water-Resources/Funding-Programs/Water-Supply-Grants.