Winter Haven advances $26 million dual water production facility project with Wharton-Smith CMAR award

Winter Haven advances $26 million dual water production facility project with Wharton-Smith CMAR awardThe Florida municipality has approved a preconstruction agreement to build the new Cypresswood and Pollard Road Water Production Facilities, working against a strict October 2028 deadline to begin receiving alternative water supplies from a regional cooperative.

The City Commission unanimously approved a CMAR agreement with Wharton-Smith, Inc., starting with a $632,759 preconstruction phase.

The $26 million capital project includes the $11 million Cypresswood facility (2.0 mgd) and the $15 million Pollard Road facility (8.0 mgd).

The Pollard Road facility must be operational by October 2028 to serve as a receiving station for the Polk Regional Water Cooperative's alternative water supply.

The construction phase will include an 8% construction management fee and utilize early-out packages to expedite long-lead equipment procurement.

The city plans to fund the project through a combination of revenue bonds, State Revolving Fund (SRF) loans, and WIFIA funding.

The City of Winter Haven, Florida, is moving forward with a $26 million expansion of its drinking water infrastructure, unanimously approving a Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) agreement with Wharton-Smith, Inc. during its August 24, 2026, commission meeting. The contract covers the construction of two distinct sites: the new Cypresswood Water Production Facility (WPF) and the Pollard Road WPF. The City Commission authorized an initial preconstruction phase valued at $632,759. During this phase, Wharton-Smith will provide design phase support, value engineering, and ultimately establish a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) for the project. The subsequent construction phase will include an 8% construction management fee. A primary driver for the project's accelerated timeline is Winter Haven's membership in the Polk Regional Water Cooperative (PRWC). The City Manager noted during the meeting that the Pollard Road WPF must be operational by October 2028 to serve as a receiving station for scheduled alternative water supplies from the PRWC. To meet this deadline, the CMAR agreement utilizes "early out" work packages to expedite the procurement of long-lead items and site preparation. The Pollard Road facility, estimated at $15 million, will have an initial capacity of 8.0 million gallons per day (mgd). The $11 million Cypresswood WPF will replace an existing facility that has reached the end of its useful life. The new Cypresswood plant is designed for a 2.0 mgd capacity, with a footprint reserved for future expansion up to 4.0 mgd. According to project documents, the city plans to finance the $26 million total cost through a combination of revenue bonds, State Revolving Fund (SRF) loans, and Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) funding. In a separate consent agenda item, the city also approved an $868,645 contract to Danny Martinez, Inc. for the replacement of Lift Station 151, alongside a $103,506 direct purchase of a bypass pump from Xylem Dewatering, Inc.