Apopka to fix northern water pressure with $5.8 million state grant

Residents in northern Apopka will see construction crews dig up Plymouth Sorrento Road starting in September 2027 to install a new water line. The project addresses low reclaimed-water pressure that has affected local lawns for years. City officials secured $5,784,615 in state funding to cover the full cost of the work.

The problem stems from a missing connection in the distribution network. Mayor Nick Nesta explained that the city has enough water but faces choke points where pipes narrow as they reach newer neighborhoods. He described the issue as aging infrastructure that was not planned to handle the increase in households. This has led to pressure drops during peak irrigation times.

Linda Matthews, who lives in the Rock Springs Ridge neighborhood, said she has dealt with dry patches on her lawn for about six years. When the pressure drops, her sprinklers do not reach the edges of her property. Matthews said she has considered unconventional fixes. "Just spray the lawn green. Just paint it, you know?" she joked. The lack of consistent water also leads to higher costs for replacing dead grass.

The state grant will pay for approximately 5,600 linear feet of new 30-inch transmission pipe. The line will run from West Lester Road to West Ponkan Road. Crews will use open-trench methods for most of the route and horizontal directional drilling for major roadway crossings. The new pipe will connect existing lines and help move water to the Golden Gem Reclaimed Water Facility and storage tanks at the Northwest Recreation Center.

The project is not a replacement of old pipes but an addition to the current network. City officials say it will close a gap in the system and improve flow to Wekiva Run, Ridgebrook, and Rock Springs Ridge. Nesta estimated that thousands of households will benefit from the improved reliability. The work is expected to be finished by May 2028.

This funding does not change the utility rates that took effect in October. On September 2, the City Commission approved a 6% increase for water, sewer, and reclaimed-water services. The city will front the construction costs using impact fees from new development and then seek reimbursement from the state. Nesta said the money is already in the capital improvement plan. "We don't have to do any budget amendments," he said.

The new infrastructure will help the city rely less on groundwater for irrigation. By improving the local reclaimed-water network, Apopka aims to reduce supplemental withdrawals. The project will also support future development along the corridor by adding transmission capacity. The work is part of a larger regional effort to share treated wastewater among neighboring communities.