Pinellas County advances $41.8m South Cross Bayou wastewater pump station upgrade, seeks $15m state grant

Pinellas County advances $41.8m South Cross Bayou wastewater pump station upgrade, seeks $15m state grantThe Board of County Commissioners has approved an application for a $15 million Resilient Florida Grant to fund capacity and standard upgrades at the South Cross Bayou Advanced Water Reclamation Facility, alongside awarding a $1.79 million force main replacement contract.

Commissioners unanimously approved a $15 million grant application to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to help fund a $41.8 million high service pump station improvement project.

The South Cross Bayou AWRF project is currently at 90% design, with final plans expected by the summer of 2026, and requires a 50% local funding match.

The board also approved a $1.79 million contract to Cacique Utilities LLC to replace an aging 24-inch force main leading to the South Cross Bayou facility.

Pinellas County is moving forward with significant capital improvements to its wastewater infrastructure, focusing on the South Cross Bayou Advanced Water Reclamation Facility (AWRF) in St. Petersburg, Florida. During its August 25, 2026 meeting, the Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved the submission of a $15 million grant application to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Resilient Florida Grant Program. The funding will support upgrades to the South Cross Bayou AWRF High Service Pump Station, bringing the facility up to current standards while increasing pumping capacity to meet future demands. The total cost for the pump station improvements is estimated at $41.8 million, which is included in the county's proposed FY2027-2032 Capital Improvement Plan. The grant requires a minimum 50% local match, which will be drawn from the county's Sewer Renewal and Replacement Fund. According to county documents, the project is currently at 90% design, with 100% plans anticipated during the summer of 2026. During a brief discussion on the item, Chris Rose from the Office of Management and Budget confirmed to the board that while the grant funding comes in as revenue, it is recorded as an expense within the county's capital budget. In a related infrastructure move, the board also awarded a $1,797,492 contract to Cacique Utilities LLC for a force main replacement project. The contractor will replace approximately 1,218 linear feet of an existing prestressed concrete cylinder pipe along 54th Avenue North that has exceeded its useful life. The new 24-inch PVC force main, which connects Pump Station 126 to the South Cross Bayou AWRF, is expected to have a useful life of 50 to 100 years. The work is scheduled to be completed within 365 calendar days.