KEY WEST, Fla. – A new reverse osmosis water treatment facility is now open in the Lower Keys, providing a backup supply of drinking water during emergencies and peak demand periods.
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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis visited Key West on Monday to announce the opening of the Kermit H. Lewin Stock Island Reverse Osmosis Facility, a $47 million desalination plant designed to serve Key West and surrounding communities when the main water pipeline is disrupted.
“Since 2019, we’ve committed over $80 million to water quality and infrastructure in the Florida Keys — with more to come," he said.
The facility, which replaces an older plant damaged during Hurricane Irma, was built using elevated construction and storm-hardened materials to withstand future disasters. It will remain on standby for use during emergencies rather than operate daily.
DeSantis said that funding for the project included a $30.7 million grant from the Florida Department of Commerce’s Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery program, with the remainder covered by the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority.
The investment is part of a broader state effort to protect infrastructure and water quality in the Keys.
In April, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection awarded over $9 million to Monroe County and local municipalities to support wastewater improvements, canal restoration, and stormwater upgrades.
Since 2019, state leaders say they’ve directed more than $80 million to protect the region’s environment and strengthen resilience.
