Punta Gorda approves $22.4m wastewater facility plan for hurricane resiliency and capacity upgrades

Punta Gorda approves $22.4m wastewater facility plan for hurricane resiliency and capacity upgradesDriven by severe inflow and infiltration during recent hurricanes, the Florida city will leverage State Revolving Fund loans and principal forgiveness to overhaul its 1980s-era pumping and collection infrastructure.

The unanimous approval advances a multi-phased project targeting the city's Master Pump Facility, Booster Pump Facility, Lift Station 30, and a new 20-inch force main.

The upgrades will increase the master pump station's capacity from 4.0 MGD to 5.5 MGD and replace outdated clay piping in the gravity system.

The $21.6 million capital cost will be financed through the FDEP State Revolving Fund, utilizing $10.28 million in special appropriation funding that includes $5.14 million in principal forgiveness.

Project drivers include severe inflow and infiltration (I&I) and sanitary sewer overflows experienced during Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which brought storm surges of up to 7 feet.

The Punta Gorda City Council unanimously adopted a resolution on May 6 approving a comprehensive Wastewater Facility Plan. The $22.4 million initiative aims to replace aging 1980s infrastructure and mitigate severe inflow and infiltration (I&I) vulnerabilities exposed by recent extreme weather events. Diane Kemp, a consultant with CDM Smith, presented the plan to the council, noting that existing facilities have exceeded their useful life. The phased improvements will target the city's Master Pump Facility, a Booster Pump Facility, Lift Station 30, and the installation of a new 20-inch force main. A major driver of the project is the need to expand the master pump station's hydraulic capacity from 4.0 million gallons per day (MGD) to the required 5.5 MGD, a constraint currently bottlenecked by an existing 14-inch force main. Additionally, Lift Station 30's gravity system, which features outdated clay piping, will undergo extensive rehabilitation to reduce I&I. The urgency of the upgrades was underscored by the system's performance during Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which brought storm surges of 7 feet and 5 feet, respectively, to the downtown area. Kemp noted that the storms caused significant I&I, potential overflows, and flow management constraints, necessitating new resiliency measures and an upgraded generator for the booster pump station. The total capital cost is estimated at $21.6 million, which will be financed through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) State Revolving Fund (SRF). The city has identified $10.28 million in special EPA funding related to Hurricanes Helene and Milton, of which 50 percent ($5.14 million) is eligible for principal forgiveness. The remaining balance will be amortized over 20 years at an estimated interest rate of 0.59 percent, resulting in an annual debt service of approximately $1.4 million. According to Kemp, the debt service fits within the city's projected rate structure without requiring additional rate increases. The city plans to submit all SRF planning documentation by mid-May 2026. Bid documents for the first phase of construction—covering the master and booster pump facilities—are scheduled for completion by February 2027, with subsequent phases following in April and June 2027.