Gainesville advances $150M bond issue to fund major water and wastewater upgrades

Gainesville advances $150M bond issue to fund major water and wastewater upgradesThe GRU Authority Board has approved a bond resolution that will help finance a five-year, $125 million water and wastewater capital plan, highlighted by a shift to MBR technology at the Main Street Water Reclamation Facility.

The board unanimously approved a resolution to issue up to $150 million in new money revenue bonds for capital infrastructure across its utility systems.

Wastewater projects dominate the five-year capital plan with $96 million allocated, including $75 million for Phase 2 of the Main Street Water Reclamation Facility (MSWRF) upgrade.

Phase 2 of the MSWRF project will replace the east aeration process with new Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) technology by 2030.

Water system improvements account for $29.3 million of the bond-funded capital plan, targeting treatment equipment, wellfield projects, and distribution main replacements.

On August 10, 2026, the Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) Authority Board unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the issuance of up to $150 million in new money revenue bonds. The funds will support the utility's five-year capital improvement program, which includes nearly $125.3 million in planned water and wastewater infrastructure investments. The centerpiece of the wastewater capital plan is the ongoing capacity and renewal upgrade at the Main Street Water Reclamation Facility (MSWRF). The overall MSWRF project is estimated to cost $170 million over five to ten years, increasing the plant's capacity from 7.5 million gallons per day (Mgd) to 10 Mgd. Phase 1 of the project—which included a new master lift station to permit advanced treatment on-site and a new headworks structure—was completed on June 30, 2026, supported by a $22.5 million grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The newly approved bond funding will help support Phase 2 of the MSWRF upgrade, which is budgeted at $75 million. Slated for completion in 2030, Phase 2 will replace the facility's east aeration process with new Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) treatment technology, alongside significant secondary electrical upgrades to provide whole-plant emergency generation. The existing 1990s-era center and west aeration and clarification processes will remain in place through the end of their useful life. Beyond the MSWRF, the wastewater capital plan includes $11 million for cured-in-place-pipe (CIPP) mains projects and $10 million for force main improvements between lift stations 1 and 100. On the drinking water side, $29.3 million in bond proceeds will target the Murphree Water Treatment Plant for structural improvements, filter media upgrades, and wellfield enhancements, as well as proactive distribution main replacements. During the meeting, CEO and General Manager Ed Bielarski also highlighted the operational benefits of GRU's Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) rollout in reducing non-revenue water. In a recent review of 700 water accounts, the AMI system identified 26 urgent leaks—some exceeding 800 to 1,000 gallons per hour. This data allowed the utility to initiate 431 automated calls and dispatch crews for 159 truck rolls to resolve the issues early, saving customers money and reducing stress on the water supply.