Pasco County clears $142m Land O’ Lakes wastewater expansion
Pasco County Utility Department, Florida · Meeting date: October 20, 2026 · Published: October 21, 2026
The Land O’ Lakes Wastewater Treatment Plant will gain 1.5mgd of capacity under a Vogel Bros. Building Co. progressive design-build amendment approved by Pasco County commissioners. Most of the investment will rehabilitate and upgrade the existing works, while compliance with newer regulations adds about $26 million.
Key points
- Commissioners approved Amendment No. 1 to Vogel Bros. Building Co.’s progressive design-build agreement, initiating construction on the $142.099 million project.
- The plant’s permitted capacity will rise from 3.5mgd to 5.0mgd through the addition of 1.5mgd of capacity.
- About three-quarters of the programme cost is for rehabilitation and upgrades to the existing plant; roughly $35 million is allocated to future growth and additional capacity.
- New regulations implemented since the existing plant was built represent approximately $26 million of the total project cost.
Full report
Pasco County commissioners have approved a $142.099 million amendment to move the Land O’ Lakes Wastewater Treatment Plant rehabilitation and expansion into construction, providing 1.5mgd of additional permitted treatment capacity.
The amendment is the first to the county’s progressive design-build agreement with Vogel Bros. Building Co. for the Land O’ Lakes project, identified as PCU 22-018.00. The plant is currently permitted for 3.5mgd and will reach 5.0mgd after the capacity work.
Utilities Engineering and Contract Management Director Adolfo Gonzalez told the board that the programme is primarily an upgrade of existing infrastructure rather than a pure expansion. Approximately three-quarters of the $142 million total will fund rehabilitation and upgrades at the existing treatment plant. Around $35 million—about one-quarter of the total—is assigned to added or future growth capacity.
The project also illustrates the material cost of tighter treatment requirements. Gonzalez said approximately $26 million of the contract value is attributable to regulations implemented since construction of the existing facility.
The board’s chairman highlighted the distinction between the county’s utility enterprise fund and general county spending, while asking staff to explain the financial effect of new treatment requirements. He said the requirements can benefit the environment but also raise the cost borne through utility infrastructure investment.
Commissioners approved the amendment without further debate after the presentation.
The decision advances one of several utility planning actions before the county. The board also received task orders covering guaranteed-maximum-price review and negotiations for the Land O’ Lakes expansion, an alternative reclaimed-water supply study, a 10-year water-supply facilities work plan and a revision to the Stone Road water-main extension task order.
Separately, Tampa Bay Water reported that Pasco County purchased about 40mgd from the regional wholesale supplier during the water year ended 30 September, roughly 20% of Tampa Bay Water’s average 202mgd system supply. The county has also asked the wholesaler to begin discussions on a new eastern Pasco point of connection.
This summary was generated by AI based on the source document and may contain errors.
Source: Board of County Commissioners , Pasco County Utility Department