Two major projects designed to bring more water to the region are advancing on time and on budget.
Surface Water Treatment Plant Expansion
The Tampa Bay Regional Surface Water Treatment Plant is under construction to add 12.5 million gallons of water per day (mgd) in additional capacity by adding a fifth treatment process train and upgrading key systems. Crews are now building the load-transfer platform and preparing the ozone building foundation, and improvements to expand the plant’s solids handling capacity are substantially complete. The first major concrete placements for the new filters and chemical building are also complete. Construction is currently 15% complete, and spending is aligned at 22% of the total $167 million budget.
The plant has successfully operated since 2002, treating water from the Alafia River, Hillsborough River and the Tampa Bypass Canal to drinking water standards. It was first expanded in 2011 and provides an average of up to 90 mgd and a maximum of 120 mgd of high-quality water to the region.
South Hillsborough Pipeline
The South Hillsborough Pipeline will deliver up to 65 million gallons of water per day (mgd) to south-central Hillsborough County when complete.
Construction is active in 13 locations across the 26-mile route from Brandon to Lithia to Balm. The microtunnel under Brandon Boulevard at Moon Avenue is now complete, and restoration has begun in this area. This trenchless construction method allowed the contractor to cross beneath busy Brandon Boulevard with minimal traffic disruption while avoiding existing utilities. A microtunnel crew is now tunneling underneath Falkenburg to Woodberry Road. Other microtunnel crews are continuing work at the Alafia River, Fishhawk Boulevard, and two microtunnels on Boyette Road.
Open-trench construction is ongoing along North Moon Street, Ronele Drive and Boyette Road.
Construction is approximately 13% complete, based on linear feet of pipe installed, and spending is aligned at 27% of the total $461.2 million budget.
