Oakland to get $2 million for irrigation project

The town of Oakland has been awarded a $2 million legislative appropriation for an innovative alternative water project. The funds will pay for a majority of the project; the town is committing $400,000.

As the project moves forward, additional funding from various grants, loans and utility impact fees also will be leveraged to complete construction.

The town has developed an alternative water project using an existing town-owned drainage canal on the west end of Oakland to harvest stormwater runoff and then utilize it for irrigation purposes. This project will intercept, filter and treat the nutrient-rich stormwater runoff before it reaches Lake Apopka.

The treated stormwater will then be returned to upland areas through the irrigation network. This project is intended to decrease the amount of potable water being used for irrigation.

Through a single connection, 155 existing homes will initially convert to this system. With a few thousand feet of pipeline and four connection points, another 750 homes and several commercial properties will see the same benefit.

Construction of the first phase should begin in early 2024; additional phases will follow as funding allows.