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Board approves $129.2M guaranteed maximum price for South Hillsborough pipeline; staff outlines co‑located wellfield plan
Summary
The board approved a second GMP for the South Hillsborough pipeline and heard a program update on South Hills projects including a proposed well field on the Atmar/ELAP property and related property‑exchange and permitting steps.
The Tampa Bay Water Board approved the second guaranteed maximum price (GMP) package for the South Hillsborough pipeline on April 21 and received an update on related South Hills County water supply projects.
Project manager Maribel Medina told the board the GMP #2 proposal from the construction manager‑at‑risk totals $129,200,000, with $100,600,000 assigned to pipeline Segment A and $28,600,000 to Segment B. Medina said the package covers specialty trenchless construction at 17 locations and assumes at least four concurrent trenchless crews. She said the GMP proposal was approximately 9% below the 60% design estimate of $142,700,000.
Nut graf: The board authorized the GMP to keep the pipeline construction schedule on track; staff also outlined parallel work to site and plan a co‑located South Hills well field that would provide additional supply to southern service areas.
Medina told the board the pipeline will be about 26 miles long, up to 60 inches in diameter, and deliver up to 65,000,000 gallons per day to South Hillsborough County when complete. She reported property acquisition progress: of roughly 218 required construction or permanent easements, staff has closed on 77 parcels and included 79 parcels in eminent domain resolutions; the remainder remain in negotiation. She recommended approval of the second amendment to contract 2020‑327 with Garney Companies Inc. for the GMP amount.
The board approved the amendment in a recorded vote (motion carried; roll call recorded as unanimous at the meeting).
Staff also presented the broader South Hills program update. The agency is advancing a planned South Hills well field that could include eight production wells yielding an estimated 6 to 12 million gallons per day; ozone treatment would address hydrogen sulfide at the site. The proposed well field would be co‑located with Hillsborough County facilities on the Atmar property; staff described a contemplated agreement with the county’s ELAP (Environmental Lands Acquisition and Protection) program to exchange water development rights on a former Cone Branch well field to secure four well sites on the Atmar parcel.
Hillsborough County Water Resources Director Lisa Ray answered board questions on reclaimed lines and said reclaimed‑water infrastructure will be part of a future One Water campus and reuse connections as development proceeds in the Balm area.
Ending: With the GMP approved, staff will continue permits and property acquisitions ahead of a planned construction start as soon as final design, permits and easement closings allow for fall construction and an estimated in‑service date in late 2028.
