Polk County advances utility campus design to support 9 MGD wastewater plant expansion

Polk County advances utility campus design to support 9 MGD wastewater plant expansionThe architectural and engineering contract will relocate and consolidate operations facilities, clearing the way for capacity upgrades at the Northeast Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant.

The Board of County Commissioners approved a $705,648.50 contract amendment with CPH Consulting for final design and bidding documents.

The new three-building NERUSA Operations Support Campus will be located on an adjacent 5-acre parcel.

Relocating the operations building is necessary to accommodate the wastewater plant's expansion from 6 MGD to 9 MGD.

Phase 2 design services are expected to be completed within 200 calendar days.

Polk County, Florida, is moving forward with the next phase of its Northeast Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant capacity expansion, approving a $705,648.50 contract amendment to design a new utility operations support campus. During the June 2, 2026, meeting, the Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved Amendment No. 1 to an existing professional services agreement with CPH Consulting. The amendment covers Phase 2 architectural and engineering services, which include the final design and preparation of bidding documents for the Northeast Region Utility Service Area (NERUSA) Operations Support Campus. The new campus is a critical enabling project for the ongoing expansion of the Northeast Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant, which is increasing its treatment capacity from 6 million gallons per day (MGD) to 9 MGD. To accommodate the expanded treatment infrastructure, the existing utility operations building will be relocated to an adjacent 5-acre parcel. The resulting three-building campus will house a utility operations support facility, a utilities warehouse, and a regional fleet maintenance satellite operation. According to county staff, the consolidated campus model was selected following evaluations of existing site topographic challenges, roadway access constraints, and the ongoing construction timeline at the wastewater plant. CPH Consulting is expected to complete the Phase 2 professional services within 200 calendar days. A subsequent Phase 3 agreement for construction administration support will be brought to the board for approval at a later date. Funds for the design phase are allocated from the county's general capital improvement fund.