A water treatment plant that once played a major role in the recovery of Tampa, Florida’s lakes and wetlands is undergoing a major expansion project, according to a news release.
Two Boston-based firms, contractor CDM Smith and water treatment company Veolia Water North America, recently broke ground on the expansion of the Tampa Bay Regional Surface Water Treatment Plant, according to a March 2 news release.
The $181 million project, which the two firms will work on through a public-private partnership with Tampa Bay Water, will ultimately increase the treatment capacity of the plant by up to 12.5 million gallons per day.
The plant has helped reduce dependence on groundwater. Prior to the facility, groundwater served as the only regional drinking water source. Now, groundwater withdrawals in the area have decreased by nearly 50%, allowing the surrounding environment to recover, according to Tampa Bay Water.
“We’re expanding key treatment processes at the plant to increase capacity while building on what already works,” said Mike Kuhn, director of capital management at Veolia. “Site preparation is underway, and this next phase will bring those plans to life.”
The upgrade at the treatment plant will enhance the existing facility to produce additional drinking water without increasing permitted river withdrawals. The fix would maximize the use of rainfall when it is available, according to the release.
Other key improvements include new piping and valves connecting onsite storage to plant influent and the expansion of the clarification process that removes color and particles. Influent refers to untreated wastewater entering a treatment facility.
Additional fixes include ozone treatment capacity and biologically active filtration to remove organics. Teams will also expand the secondary disinfection systems and residuals processing capabilities, according to the release.
Water-related construction has been a bright spot for contractors with expertise in the area recently. For example, Jacobs CEO Bob Pragada recently highlighted strong demand in the water market, both in the U.S. and internationally, during its latest fiscal first-quarter earnings call. AECOM, along with a group of other contractors, also pinpointed potential opportunities in the water construction sector.
“This project represents the future of the region’s water supply,” said Frank Terrasi, president at CDM Smith Construction. “We’re focused on expanding the plant while keeping it running every day for the communities that rely on it.”
Construction will continue through 2028. The expansion will ultimately meet the drinking water demands of the region through 2033, according to the release.
