Sopchoppy gets big money for new sewer

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection announced Thursday that it has awarded a $5.1 million to the city of Sopchoppy for wastewater management. The funds are part of DEP’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund Program and will go to the construction of a complete sanitary sewer collection system to replace the existing septic tanks in the community. The project is expected to eliminate the ground water and surface water pollution associated with septic systems in areas with high seasonal water table conditions. Wakulla County will provide treatment and disposal of the wastewater. The funds awarded to the city of Sopchoppy are a part of the approximately $212 million awarded to Florida from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to help local governments finance improvements to wastewater, stormwater and drinking water facilities. Sopchoppy was one of the 33 Florida communities recently approved to receive these funds – the cities of Carrabelle and Apalachicola are also slated to receive money through the program.