Seven water quality restoration projects and nine education and outreach programs throughout the state of Florida received $5.25 million in grant funding from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The funding is received from the U.S. EPA through Section 319 of the Federal Clean Water Act.

These grants are often referred to as "319 Grants" and are distributed in order to address nonpoint source pollution. Nonpoint source pollution is caused by rainfall or snowmelt moving over or through the ground, as opposed to direct source pollution from a company.

One recent example of a 319 grant is $150,000 that was awarded to Orange County, California, for the Wekiva Springshed Education project, which provided an educational outreach program about septic replacement and upgrade.

The money that Florida received will be utilized in a very similar manner, and as such, will be aimed at water quality restoration in Florida. This includes Florida friendly landscaping, nutrient reduction, septic to sewer conversion projects and public education.

Trina Vielhauer, director of the Division of Water Restoration Assistance in Florida, stated, "We are pleased to partner with EPA once again to award grants for innovative projects that will help restore and protect Florida's important waterways."