The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board approved additional funding Tuesday for a project that will connect the Town of Longboat Key to the City of Sarasota’s water supply.
The project is funded between the District and the Town of Longboat Key. The District’s Manasota Basin Board’s 2005 budget included $50,000 for the project. Now Longboat Key will receive an additional $200,000 in financial assistance from the District’s Water Supply and Resource Development fund. Additional funding in future fiscal years is contingent upon basin board and governing board approval.
The connection will provide the town with a backup supply of potable water. Longboat Key currently gets its water supply from Manatee County.
The project consists of the design and construction of approximately 2,000 linear feet of 12-inch transmission line that will connect with the City of Sarasota’s water supply.
The project also involves upgrading 3.5 miles of existing 8, 10 and 12-inch transmission lines along Gulf of Mexico Drive, and for the pump system and emergency generator upgrades at the south and mid-key water stations. Longboat Key is expected to solely fund this part of the project.
This project will ensure a reliable supply of potable water to Longboat Key. The project was originally meant to serve as an emergency supply only but it is expected to eventually serve as a back-up supply to help meet the town’s peak demands.