Orlando approves $27.1m water reclamation construction budget

Orlando approves $27.1m water reclamation construction budgetOrlando City Council has adopted its FY 2026/27 budget, providing $27.1 million for the Water Reclamation General Construction Fund. The capital programme includes $11.9 million for improvements at the Iron Bridge water reclamation facility and associated reclaimed-water infrastructure.

The FY 2026/27 Water Reclamation General Construction Fund totals $27.136 million, including $26.9 million of identified projects and grants.

Iron Bridge clarifier improvements receive $5.5 million, while reclaim pump-station improvements receive $3.2 million.

The programme includes $4 million for phase-two evaluation of force mains serving lift stations 1, 2, 3 and 4, and $2 million for ERRWDS flow metering.

Orlando budgeted $153.151 million in its Water Reclamation Revenue Fund and $19.728 million across water reclamation state revolving loan and 2024 revenue-bond debt-service funds.

Orlando City Council has adopted a FY 2026/27 budget containing $27.136 million for its Water Reclamation General Construction Fund, setting out a $26.9 million programme of wastewater treatment, sewer-system and reclaimed-water works. The final city budget was approved at the 28 September budget hearing and takes effect on 1 October 2026. The overall city budget is $1.882 billion. Assistant Chief Financial Officer Jason Wachowski told the hearing that the total budget had not changed from the first hearing on 14 September, although the budget schedule formatting had been updated. The water reclamation construction programme is led by $5.5 million for Iron Bridge clarifier improvements and $3.2 million for Iron Bridge reclaim pump-station improvements. The budget also assigns $3.5 million for minor plant upgrades and installations, $3 million for emergency and rapid-response construction, and $2 million for miscellaneous renewal and replacement. Collection-system planning and rehabilitation form a substantial part of the programme. Orlando has allocated $4 million for phase two of an evaluation of force mains serving lift stations 1, 2, 3 and 4. A further $2 million is provided for ERRWDS flow metering. Other line items include $1.2 million for line-sewer rehabilitation, $500,000 for project-concurrent sanitary upgrades, $350,000 for inflow-and-infiltration reduction, $400,000 for large-diameter gravity-main cured-in-place-pipe lining, and $250,000 for Eagles Nest gravity-main rehabilitation. Reclaimed-water and pumping assets are also included, with $300,000 for reclaimed-water valve replacement, $500,000 for Conserv II power-generation-system upgrades and $200,000 for a Lift Station 45 force-main air-release-valve project. The adopted budget places the Water Reclamation Revenue Fund at $153.151 million, almost entirely funded by charges for services. It also provides $9.975 million in debt service for the Water Reclamation State Revolving Loan Fund and $9.754 million for the Water Reclamation Revenue Bonds 2024 Debt Service Fund. Separately, the city approved a $52.477 million Stormwater Utility Fund and a $17.166 million Stormwater Capital Fund. The latter includes $17.1 million in identified projects, including drainage, flood-mitigation, water-quality and watershed-planning work.