Tampa Bay Water advances $240m PFAS and TOC treatment strategy

Tampa Bay Water advances $240m PFAS and TOC treatment strategyThe regional utility has greenlit the design phase for water quality upgrades across five sites, balancing incoming federal PFAS regulations with immediate operational needs to stabilize disinfection residuals.

The board approved targeted treatment projects at five locations, with total capital costs estimated at $240 million.

PFAS reduction will be implemented at the regional surface water treatment plant and two Brandon Urban Dispersed Wells sites.

TOC reduction projects at the Eldridge Wild and South Pasco well fields will cost approximately $51 million and aim to improve chloramine residuals.

Veolia secured a $1.83 million contract to design pilot facilities at the surface water treatment plant, funded by recent PFAS settlement receipts.

Tampa Bay Water is moving forward with a major regional water quality initiative targeting per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and total organic carbon (TOC). At its April 20 meeting, the utility's Board of Directors approved recommendations to implement targeted treatment at five sites, a program expected to cost approximately $240 million in total capital expenditures. Driven by the US EPA's new drinking water standards, the agency will add PFAS reduction treatments at its regional surface water treatment plant and two Brandon Urban Dispersed Wells treatment sites. While the EPA's compliance deadline is currently set for April 2029, ongoing litigation over the federal rules has prompted the utility to take a phased approach. Tampa Bay Water will begin design work—estimated to cost $24 million overall—but will withhold full construction authorization until regulatory timelines are certain. As a first step, the board approved a $1.83 million contract amendment with Veolia to provide design services for an interim and permanent pilot facility at the surface water treatment plant. The pilot will test treatment optimization, potentially including a suspended ion exchange process, and will be funded using the utility's recent PFAS litigation settlement receipts. Alongside PFAS compliance, the utility is prioritizing TOC reduction at the Eldridge Wild and South Pasco well fields, which accounts for approximately $51 million of the total estimated capital cost. Utility staff noted that high TOC levels in these groundwater sources degrade chloramine disinfection residuals in member government distribution systems. Reducing the organic carbon load will stabilize residuals, lower chemical costs, reduce the need for system flushing, and ultimately allow the utility to safely harvest more water from underutilized well fields to meet regional demand.