Cuts Imperil Tampa Project to Address Sewage and Stormwater Issues

A neighborhood near the University of South Florida Tampa campus received a grant in March from the EPA to address longstanding stormwater and sewage issues. But that grant is now on hold, due to DOGE funding cuts, reports WUSF.

The University Area is one of the lowest-lying spots in the Tampa Bay region and frequently sees dangerous flooding, as it did during last year’s hurricanes.

Many residents aren’t connected to city water and sewage and are instead forced to use wells. They’ve reported brown, contaminated water coming up through their pipes.

[Resident Ross] Fabian has to use bottled water when he brushes his teeth at his dentist’s office because he doesn’t want to use what he described as smelly, brown water.

Erica Moody, the chief community development officer with the University Area CDC, said around 400 EPA grant recipients received notice their funding was suspended because their projects no longer aligned with the agency’s priorities.