Fort Myers advances $75M plant expansion and wellfield growth to secure 2050 supply

Fort Myers advances $75M plant expansion and wellfield growth to secure 2050 supplyThe Florida utility is utilizing grants and low-interest loans to fund a capacity boost to 15 MGD and add 16 new wells, aiming to stay ahead of development demands despite a recent plateau in consumption growth.

A $75 million expansion of the water treatment plant will increase capacity to 15 MGD by 2028.

The utility plans to expand its raw water supply from 28 to 44 wells by the end of the decade.

Current demand has stabilized, leaving a 1.7 MGD buffer against committed development projects.

Pipeline renewal needs are estimated at $20 million annually to maintain $1 billion in buried assets.

The City of Fort Myers is moving forward with significant capital improvements to its water infrastructure, focused on a $75 million expansion of its water treatment plant and a concurrent expansion of its raw water wellfield. Assistant Director of Public Utilities Jason Chandra provided a comprehensive update to the City Council, outlining a strategy designed to meet demand through 2045 or 2050. The centerpiece of the capital program is the treatment plant expansion, which will bring total capacity to 15 million gallons per day (MGD). The project, currently under construction and expected to be online by 2028, was originally estimated at $100 million but was reduced to $75 million through value engineering with the construction manager at risk. Funding for the project includes a legislative appropriation and a low-interest loan featuring $9 million in principal forgiveness. To support the increased treatment capacity, the utility is aggressively expanding its raw water sources. The system currently operates 28 wells, with one under construction and another 15 planned for completion by the end of the decade, bringing the total to 44 wells. Chandra noted that the city is leveraging approximately $100 million in grant-funded or subsidized infrastructure improvements to execute this expansion without impacting customer rates. This funding portfolio includes a $20 million award from the state’s Resilient Florida Program, which is covering half the cost of specific wellfield expansion, redundancy, and flood-proofing projects. Operational data presented during the meeting indicates that water demand has leveled off recently after a 12.5% increase between 2021 and 2025. The utility has stabilized system pressure at 62 psi. Currently, the city possesses about 3.2 MGD of available capacity against 1.5 MGD of demand committed to permitted developments, resulting in a healthy 1.7 MGD buffer. Beyond production, Chandra highlighted the financial challenges of maintaining the city’s transmission and distribution system. With approximately $1 billion worth of buried water and sewer assets and an assumed 50-year lifespan, the utility estimates it needs to invest $20 million annually in renewal and replacement. A request for this funding level is expected in the next budget cycle. Additionally, the council received an update on the decommissioning of the IMAG elevated storage tank. A contractor has provided a quote of approximately $450,000 to demolish the structure, significantly lower than initial estimates. The work is tentatively scheduled for completion before the upcoming hurricane season to mitigate liability risks.