Lakeland outlines upgrades to Northside pump station, recommends replacing chlorine gas across treatment plants

Lakeland City staff on Tuesday updated the City Commission on a package of water, wastewater and wetlands projects, saying a Northside pump station replacement is under construction, a statewide grant-driven Lake Vine flood-mitigation project has advanced to a preferred alternative, and a city-funded study recommends converting four treatment facilities from chlorine gas to sodium hypochlorite.

The updates, presented during a multi-department briefing, covered construction progress at the Northside Pump Station (just south of Home Depot on North 98), a wetlands-phase trail completion, a pilot algae-extraction installation at Bonnet Springs Park and early design work for a biosolids composting facility. Staff said the Northside station handles about 3 million gallons of sewage per day and had reached capacity; the contractor mobilized in December 2023 and the city now expects substantial completion in May 2025. The original contract was $7.2 million; a tax-related deductive change reduced the contract by about $167,000 and additional change orders (about $147,000) were necessary after bids were submitted before development-review comments were finalized. The current contract total announced in the briefing was about $7.18 million.

Why it matters: the Northside station increase is intended to relieve capacity constraints on the city’s northside sewer system, and the disinfection recommendation would change long-standing treatment chemicals across both water and wastewater plants.

Key project details and status

- Northside Pump Station: Wet well poured and leak-checked; influent piping installation underway; electrical and instrumentation conduits roughed in; generator pad and tank set and leak-tested; internal pump bases and hangers installed. City staff said a few contract days were added for Hurricane Milton and miscellaneous items. Substantial completion targeted for May 2025 and current contract amount was reported near $7.18 million (after one deductive change and other change orders).

- Wetlands Phase 3 trails: Staff said Phase 3 will add roughly 14 miles of trail to complete a 22-mile system, including boardwalks and a Mulberry Park connection. Design and permitting and inspection services cost $79,000; the Ronda Construction contract was $456,000. A change order for a sidewalk and gate connection to the parking lot added about $14,000. Total project cost reported as $4,549,000 with a state grant contribution of $238,000.

- Disinfection study and proposed conversion: A consultant evaluated gas chlorine, sodium hypochlorite (bleach), on-site generation, UV, peracetic acid, ozone and ferrate against capital cost, operations, technology maturity, safety and hydraulic considerations. Staff reported the ranking favored sodium hypochlorite because of improved safety while narrowing capital-cost differences in recent years. The city is in the design phase for converting four facilities (two water plants and two wastewater plants) using a design-build approach; staff estimated approximately $1,000,000 per facility in FY25 budget planning but said costs may come in lower.

- Biosolids composting study: Staff said current biosolids are thermally processed into a Class A product but that the Northside digestion system failed years ago and Glendale is operating near capacity. The composting concept mixes biosolids with organic materials to produce a Class A product that could be land-applied or sold; staff are completing a cost-benefit analysis and said the market for a compost product appears promising pending favorable results.

- Algae-extraction pilot (Althea Harveston): Equipment staged at Bonnet Springs Park is pulling canal water and extracting algae, returning clarified water to the canal. City staff said the pilot pump handles about 50,000 gallons per day; the extracted algae is being tested for uses such as fuel feedstock and fertilizer for park planting beds.

- Lake Vine flood mitigation (grant-funded): Staff described a public meeting that drew substantial attendance and said four alternatives were presented. Citizens and staff favored “Alternative 3,” which includes dredging Lake Vine, pumping canal water back into Lake Vine, regrading the canal and constructing flood walls. Staff said the chosen plan reduces the 10-year flood hazard the most of the presented options but does not address larger storms. The project feasibility report was submitted to the funding agency (DOC referenced in the presentation) and the next steps are an environmental assessment and finalizing design work for Alternative 3. Staff said the overall grant was about $42,000,000 and indicated that dredging and managing contaminated dredge material will be a major cost and logistical issue to resolve.

- Lake Parker shoreline restoration: Staff identified a $751,734 budget for North Lake Parker / South Lake Craigo shoreline stabilization work, tied to the city’s TMDL/water-quality budgeting and grant permitting. Work will address steep slopes and erosion and is planned through FY25–FY27 pending permits.

What staff emphasized: safety and system reliability

“Mister Bahan” (water utilities presenter) repeatedly emphasized safety when discussing disinfection choices and the operational risks of chlorine gas, noting past contained releases that required Polk County Hazmat response and that two staff members were hospitalized in one incident. Staff said those factors and end-of-life equipment and expensive scrubber media replacement drove the decision to study alternatives and recommend sodium hypochlorite for conversion.

Outstanding questions and next steps

Staff said several design-phase projects are underway (Sylvester Road gravity sewer and force main, Glendale plant grid upgrades, Redwood Avenue and Westlake Parker Drive water-main work, and others). For the Lake Vine dredging alternative, staff said they must identify acceptable disposal or treatment options for dredged material and estimate dredging and disposal costs as part of environmental assessment and design. The city also plans to finalize procurement and design for the disinfection conversions using a design-build approach and has FY25 budgeted amounts for the work.

Ending: Staff requested continued commission support for design funding and grant-application timelines; no formal vote or motion occurred during the briefing.