Haines City receives grant to clean Lake Eva
HAINES CITY — In an effort to cleanse one of its most valued lakes, the city of Haines City now has some help.
Haines City will receive a $197,000 Total Maximum Daily Load grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The money will cover the construction costs of a chemical treatment system that will pump alum into the water to remove about 108 pounds of phosphorus annually, according to a news release from the department.
"This would add to the overall water quality itself," Public Works Director Addie Javed said. "It's beneficial to everything we do."
Lake Eva surrounds Lake Eva Park, the city's signature park, which is home to the annual Iron Man event as well as the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life and the two biggest Habitat for Humanity of East Polk events, 5K in the Park and Chili in the Park.