Punta Gorda advances 12% utility rate hike to fund RO expansion and force main upgrades

Punta Gorda advances 12% utility rate hike to fund RO expansion and force main upgradesCity Council unanimously approved the water and wastewater rate increase alongside a key design contract for the Master Pumping Facility as part of a broader strategic push for infrastructure sustainability.

Water and wastewater rates will rise by 12% starting October 1, 2026, following a rate sufficiency study indicating the need to fund mounting fiscal and infrastructure obligations.

Council awarded an $825,648 design contract to CDM Smith to upsize 8,600 linear feet of force main from 14 inches to 20 inches at the Master Pumping Facility.

The city's FY2027 Strategic Plan outlines a $56 million expansion of the Shell Creek RO Plant and wellfield, alongside a $10 million advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) rollout.

The city also secured a three-year water treatment chemical supply contract at $428.67 per ton, negotiating a 1% price reduction to save an estimated $20,000.

The City of Punta Gorda, Florida, is moving forward with a major capital push for its water and wastewater systems, underpinned by a 12% utility rate increase approved by the City Council on September 9. The rate hike, which takes effect October 1, 2026, was driven by a recent rate sufficiency study. Finance Director Kristin Simeone noted the increase is necessary to meet the fiscal obligations and infrastructure needs of the utility enterprise. Under the new structure, the monthly base facility charge for inside-city water customers will rise from $13.55 to $15.18 per equivalent residential unit (ERU), while inside-city wastewater base charges will increase from $32.96 to $36.91 per ERU. The new revenues will support an extensive capital improvement program highlighted in the newly presented FY2027 Strategic Plan. The Utilities Department's roadmap includes a planned $56 million investment in the Shell Creek Reverse Osmosis (RO) Plant and wellfield expansion. The project is advancing through engineering and permitting, with the city eyeing a progressive design-build procurement model supported by grants and State Revolving Fund (SRF) financing. In immediate capital actions, the council unanimously approved an $825,648 authorization for CDM Smith to provide professional design and bidding assistance for force main improvements at the Master Pumping Facility. The project will replace and upsize approximately 8,600 linear feet of existing 14-inch force main to a 20-inch diameter pipeline, extending from the facility on Henry Street to Education Avenue. The strategic plan also details a $10 million investment in advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), which is currently in the procurement phase, and $3.2 million for near-term wastewater reliability improvements, including lift station upgrades and sewer rehabilitation. In a separate action, the council approved a three-year contract with C & S Chemicals for the supply of liquid aluminum sulfate and an aqueous solution of aluminum sulfate and sulfuric acid for the water treatment plant. Procurement staff successfully negotiated a 1% reduction to the proposed unit prices, securing a rate of $428.67 per ton, which is expected to save the city over $20,000 during the initial contract term.