Tampa Bay Water outlines $580 million capital program for PFAS and TOC treatment

Tampa Bay Water outlines $580 million capital program for PFAS and TOC treatmentThe regional utility is preparing to advance nearly $240 million in Phase 1 projects this April to meet impending federal PFAS limits and improve disinfection stability, with an additional $340 million planned for Phase 2.

Phase 1 PFAS reduction at three locations is estimated to cost $190 million in capital and $3 million annually for operations and maintenance.

Phase 1 TOC reduction at two sites will add $50 million in capital costs, while a broader Phase 2 TOC rollout is projected at $340 million.

Tampa Bay Water plans to proceed with PFAS treatment design but will delay construction until ongoing legal challenges against EPA limits offer more regulatory clarity.

Staff will seek board approval in April to begin Phase 1 and to add Phase 2 as placeholders in the fiscal year 2027 capital improvement program.

Tampa Bay Water is preparing to launch a massive capital improvement initiative to address impending federal water quality regulations and regional disinfection challenges. During a February 23 board meeting, staff outlined a phased treatment strategy for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and Total Organic Carbon (TOC) with combined capital costs reaching roughly $580 million. Driven by the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) new drinking water limits, the utility has identified three regional delivery locations that slightly exceed the 4 parts per trillion limit. To achieve compliance, Phase 1 PFAS treatment will require nearly $190 million in capital investment, plus an estimated $3 million in annual operations and maintenance (O&M) costs. To help offset these expenses, Tampa Bay Water expects to receive between $21 million and $21.7 million from national PFAS lawsuit settlements, which will be directed toward advanced filtration and related mitigation measures. Staff noted that while the current EPA compliance deadline is April 2029, there is an intent to extend the timeline for PFOS and PFOA to 2031. Given ongoing legal challenges to the EPA limits, the utility plans to proceed with the planning and design of the PFAS treatment, but will hold off on scheduling construction until there is greater regulatory clarity. Alongside the PFAS initiative, Tampa Bay Water is moving forward with projects to reduce TOC, which will help downstream member governments maintain more predictable disinfectant residuals in their distribution systems, particularly during summer months. Phase 1 of the TOC reduction plan targets two locations with the highest regional concentrations. This initial phase carries a capital cost of approximately $50 million and $4 million in annual O&M. By implementing Phase 1 TOC and PFAS projects concurrently at shared locations, the utility expects to achieve cost savings. Performance data from the Phase 1 TOC technologies will then guide a much larger Phase 2 rollout. Phase 2 TOC reduction is projected to cost $340 million in capital and $13 million to $14 million in annual O&M, with a projected start date of 2032. The substantial price tag drew reactions from the board, with Commissioner Dave Eggers and Councilwoman Lisset Hanewicz both noting the high costs. Staff confirmed they will return to the board in April to seek formal approval to begin the Phase 1 projects and to list the Phase 2 projects as placeholders in the fiscal year 2027 capital improvement program.