Palm Coast, Fla., is preparing to undertake a major infrastructure project that will expand its wastewater treatment capacity in response to both state regulatory requirements and the city's rapidly growing population.
As the city, located between Daytona Beach and St. Augustine, continues to experience an influx of new residents, the demand on its wastewater facilities has increased, and the current system is surpassing its capacity.
The city’s Wastewater Treatment Plant No. 1 has regularly exceeded its limits: treating an average of 8.7 million gallons per day (gpd) in September when it’s only permitted for 6.83 million gpd. This is part of a trend, one that prompted the state to issue a consent decree to manage this problem. Hurricane Milton’s impact in October exacerbated the issue.
The city council recently authorized a $5-million plan to expand that facility’s capacity by 4 million gpd (to 10.83 million gpd) by 2028.
Wastewater Treatment Plant No. 2, meanwhile, will be expanded to double its capacity from 2 million to 4 million gpd by next year. That’s a $20-million undertaking on a facility that only wrapped construction in the first place in 2018.
When all is said and done, these projects are part of a broader $240-million investment to future-proof the city’s wastewater infrastructure. With more residential developments on the horizon, this expansion work will accommodate current and future demands, while adhering to Florida Department of Environmental Protection consent decree requirements.
According to city officials, the expansion project has been in the planning phase for over three years and is expected to take approximately another three years to complete. Funding for each component of these projects is a step-by-step process–and a mix of funds both private and public.
According to Public Works Director Richard Adams, the city’s strategy is to have "growth paying for growth." New residents, through future fees and rates, will contribute to paying off the investment, ensuring that the project doesn’t place undue financial pressure on existing residents.
Palm Coast has seen steady growth in residential construction over the past five years, contributing to the need for expanded water treatment infrastructure. With additional housing developments being planned, the city is positioning itself to avoid service disruptions or limitations on new construction due to infrastructure constraints.
The expansion will not only benefit new developments but also improve service reliability for current residents. By expanding capacity now, the city is making a long-term investment that will help it avoid more costly emergency expansions or system overloads in the future.
In addition to meeting regulatory requirements and supporting growth, the project is expected to create jobs and boost the local economy. Expanding the treatment plant also provides an opportunity to incorporate energy-efficient technologies, which could reduce the long-term operational costs of the facility.
Furthermore, increasing the capacity of the treatment plant will help Palm Coast improve its wastewater management, reducing the risk of overflows or environmental damage that could occur from an overloaded system.
