APOPKA, Fla. — The City of Apopka is preparing to spend $50 million to upgrade its wastewater treatment plant.
It's the largest capital improvement project for the city, and it is just one of several cities under a state order to make major changes to meet stricter standards.
The current wastewater treatment plant is capable of treating 4 1/2 million gallons of wastewater each day.
“We're going to take that to 8,” said Kevin Burgess of Apopka Public Works.
Population is growing in the second largest city in Orange County, and the city is under a state order to add equipment allowing it to enhance nutrient removal because of stricter state standards.
It will increase the amount of nitrogen that can be extracted from wastewater, the same water typically used to water lawns.
On top of that problem, the plant is skating on the edge of capacity.
“We'll be at or near capacity by March of 2019, so we'll have to do the expansion for that reason,” Burgess said.
The $50 million worth of improvements for the wastewater treatment plant will be paid for with a low-interest state loan and a utility rate increase approved last year.
9 Investigates learned that the Apopka’s rate is still among the lowest in Orange County.
“We looked at bonds, state evolving loan program. Will save the city 27 million dollars in debt service,” Burgess said.
9 Investigates learned the price could go even higher.
Typically, government agencies using tax money bid out projects to ensure costs stay low.
Apopka hasn't bid out the project, even though preconstruction work is underway.
The company doing the work may not get the full construction contract if its estimate comes in too high. “We have to have our project completed by March 2019. If we did a typical design, bid build, which is what you're describing, we would add six to nine months to the project and wouldn't meet that schedule,” Burgess said.
City leaders said they hope to have an estimate on how much construction will cost sometime this month.
Cox Media Group
