ECUA taps Garver for Bayou Marcus Water Reclamation Facility expansion study

ECUA taps Garver for Bayou Marcus Water Reclamation Facility expansion studyDriven by regional growth and state regulatory requirements, the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority has initiated preliminary planning to expand the capacity of its 8.2 MGD wastewater treatment plant.

ECUA awarded a $127,292 contract to engineering firm Garver to develop up to three capacity expansion alternatives.

The Bayou Marcus facility is currently operating at under 75% capacity, but FDEP rules require proactive planning for future development.

The study will include comparative evaluations of capital and life-cycle costs for secondary treatment and solids handling improvements.

Potential expansion alternatives may involve modifying existing biological nutrient reactor vessels or building new internal systems.

The Emerald Coast Utilities Authority (ECUA) Board of Directors approved a $127,292 professional engineering services contract with Garver on March 24, 2026, to conduct a preliminary capacity expansion study for the Bayou Marcus Water Reclamation Facility. The facility, which has a rated treatment capacity of 8.2 million gallons per day (MGD), has not undergone a major secondary treatment reconfiguration since 1997. According to the Executive Director, significant population growth in the facility's western watershed over the past 29 years has necessitated proactive capital planning. While the plant is currently operating at less than 75% of its capacity, Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) regulations require utilities to ensure adequate treatment capacity is available for current and new development prior to that capacity being critically needed. Initiating the planning process now provides the utility with a two-to-four-year window to complete design and construction while maintaining regulatory compliance. Under the approved scope of work, Garver will develop up to three alternatives to expand the capacity of the plant's secondary treatment and solids handling processes. The firm will conduct a comparative evaluation of each alternative, assessing both initial capital costs and long-term life-cycle operating expenses. The Executive Director noted that potential technical alternatives could include expanding the facility's two-section biological nutrient reactor vessels by constructing a third exterior vessel, or replacing an older, out-of-service internal system. The study will also evaluate the financial and environmental implications of utilizing existing ECUA property versus expanding into adjacent wetlands. The $127,292 lump-sum contract is funded through the utility's capital improvement program, utilizing $50,000 from the BM Basin Addition project and a $77,292 transfer from the CWRF Effluent Disposal project. Following the completion of the preliminary study, Garver is expected to present its findings to the board through a series of workshops.