Fort Pierce Utility Authority says new wastewater plant on schedule; $1 million EPA grant expected

Daniel Rutherford, chief operating officer for the Fort Pierce Utility Authority, told the commission the new mainland wastewater-treatment plant construction is on schedule and that staff plan a ribbon-cutting at the end of the year.

“We plan to be have a ribbon cutting at the end of this year,” Rutherford said, adding that operations will be tuned over the next one to two years as the utility reverses flows to the mainland plant. Rutherford said the city will operate both plants during transition; construction of a lift station on the island will be required before demolition of the island plant. He estimated revising flows and completing the lift-station work in 2026–27 and demolition and turnover in 2028.

Commissioners and staff praised the milestone and noted that grant funding helped offset costs. Commissioner Curtis Johnson told the commission he had spoken with U.S. Rep. Brian Mast and that the congressman had secured a $1,000,000 grant through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the conveyance work. Johnson said the money would “land here in the city in November,” and that staff were working to confirm whether the check would come to the city treasury or to FPUA directly.

Rutherford confirmed the schedule and asked the commission to expect a formal ribbon-cutting and continued multi-year operations during the transition period. Commissioners thanked FPUA for progress and asked staff to notify the commission when grant funds arrive so they could confirm receipt.

The timeline described to the commission: ribbon cutting by year-end; flows tuning and turnaround across 2026–27; construction of the island lift station; demolition of the island plant and final turnover around 2028.