The City of Tampa's Wastewater Department is set to invest $21 million into expansive upgrades that will improve the reliability and sustainability of its infrastructure. The Tampa City Council approved the funding that will go toward replacing aging pumping stations and force mainline pipes. With a service area that extends into Hillsborough County, the department maintains and manages 228 pumping stations. A total of 25 pumping stations will be prioritized over the next five years for either replacement or rehabilitation. The new funding will go toward the following projects:
- $13.9 million for the rehabilitation of five existing pumping stations and the design/build of one new pumping station.
- $480,00 for the construction of the 109th Street Pumping Station Force Main Extension. This will extend the force main that serves the 109th Street Pumping Station to include 400 linear feet of 14” force main on North Blvd between Cliff Circle and Bougainvillea Ave.
- $1.4 million for the Rome Avenue Pumping Station Force Main Replacement Project scheduled to begin in March 2024 and completed by December 2024.
- $3.1 million for the Prescott Pumping Station Rehabilitation Project – this project will replace the existing pumping station with a more efficient, reliable, and serviceable submersible pumping station. It will include the installation of new pumps, piping, valves, and electrical and control systems.
- $670,866 for the Gomez Pumping Station Force Main Replacement Project. This project replaces the existing force main that has reached the end of its useful life.
- $1,565,000 for the Kirby Street Force Main Replacement Project. The new force main will provide additional capacity for future development and lower energy costs of public and private pumping stations.
"Undertaking major projects involves a lot of moving parts, including assessing the impact they have on our community," said Eric Weiss, Director of the City of Tampa's Wastewater Department. "With this funding we will be able to replace or rehabilitate aging and deteriorated infrastructure that has reached the end of its useful life and provide critical upgrades that protect public health, safety, and the environment."
Another $1 million project currently underway is cleaning approximately 10,318 linear feet of 8” to 15” diameter gravity sewer pipes and rehabilitating 37 manholes on Kennedy Boulevard. This collection system project will reduce pipeline failures and blockages that cause wastewater overflows. Leaks that allow ground water and storm water runoff to enter the collection system can cause roadway depressions and cave-ins. These improvements will reduce the risk of leaks and the amount of energy required to treat and convey the additional wastewater flow.