Martin County advances construction on raw water main for Tropical Farms RO plant

Martin County advances construction on raw water main for Tropical Farms RO plantThe Board of County Commissioners has freed up capital reserves to break ground on the fully designed Floridan Raw Water Main Extension, supporting the utility's Well No. 8.

The Board approved a budget transfer of $528,892 from the Utilities Fund Enterprise Capital Reserves.

The funds will be used to commence construction on the Floridan Raw Water Main Extension for Reverse Osmosis Well No. 8.

The project, initially approved during a fiscal year 2025 workshop, has completed the design phase and is ready for immediate construction.

Martin County Utilities is moving forward with construction on a water supply expansion after the Board of County Commissioners approved a budget transfer on August 25, 2026. The board unanimously authorized the transfer of $528,892 from the Utilities Fund Enterprise Capital Reserves to fund the Floridan Raw Water Main Extension for the Tropical Farms Reverse Osmosis Well No. 8. According to Stephanie Murley of the Office of Management and Budget, the project was originally approved by the board during a fiscal year 2025 workshop. "It is now fully designed and ready for construction," Murley told the commissioners, noting that the funds were already available within the enterprise reserves to start the project. The raw water main extension will connect Well No. 8 to the Tropical Farms Reverse Osmosis treatment plant, bolstering the county's drinking water supply infrastructure. The funding was approved as part of a broader package of budget items, allowing the utilities department to immediately advance the project into the construction phase.