Cape Coral awards $11.5M for North RO plant expansion and lift station rehabs

Cape Coral awards $11.5M for North RO plant expansion and lift station rehabsThe Florida municipality is moving forward with key components of its desalination capacity expansion, securing contractors for aquifer wells and raw water conveyance while simultaneously investing in wastewater system resilience.

Douglas N. Higgins, Inc. secured a $6.54 million contract to construct six Upper Floridan Aquifer water supply wells.

Accurate Drilling Systems, Inc. was awarded a $5.0 million contract for raw water main pipeline installation.

Andrew Sitework, LLC won a $2.12 million bid to rehabilitate five duplex lift stations.

The council approved a $308,401 generator purchase for Canal Pump Station No. 5 and land acquisition for relocating Master Pump Station No. 103.

The City of Cape Coral has engaged contractors for Phase 1 of the North Reverse Osmosis (RO) Water Treatment Plant Expansion Project, approving two major construction resolutions totaling approximately $11.5 million during its January 7 meeting. For the past decade, Cape Coral’s combined potable water treatment capacity has remained steady at 30 MGD, with the North RO plant contributing 12 MGD of that total. To begin expanding the desalination facility toward its ultimate design capacity of 30 MGD, the City Council approved Resolution 2-26, awarding a contract to Douglas N. Higgins, Inc. for the labor, construction materials, and testing of six Upper Floridan Aquifer water supply wells. The contract is valued at $6,543,200, with a total authorized expenditure of $6,674,064 including contingency. The project timeline is set for 365 calendar days from the notice to proceed. Supporting the new wellfield, the council also passed Resolution 3-26, awarding Accurate Drilling Systems, Inc. a $5,001,000 contract for the installation and testing of the associated raw water main pipeline. This component also carries a 365-day construction schedule and is funded through the Water & Sewer Fund. In parallel efforts to maintain wastewater collection infrastructure, the council authorized Resolution 4-26, awarding Andrew Sitework, LLC a $2,124,740 contract for the rehabilitation and refurbishment of five duplex lift stations. This project is expected to take 240 days to complete. Additional utility resilience measures approved included the purchase of a 500 kW generator equipped with a 1,500-gallon base fuel tank for Canal Pump Station No. 5 from Cummins Inc. for $308,401. Furthermore, the council authorized the $200,000 purchase of residential lots for the relocation of Master Pump Station No. 103. During a broader discussion regarding a budget amendment, Financial Services Director Crystal Feist noted that the city is incorporating additional funding sources into the current fiscal year, including debt proceeds for capital projects and funding for storm drainage improvements on Hancock Bridge Parkway.