Fort Myers details $147M central plant reclaimed-water conversion; council to consider $138M GMP next meeting

Fort Myers city staff described a major expansion at the central wastewater treatment plant that would convert plant flows to reclaimed‑water quality, meet a state consent‑order requirement and reduce or eliminate treated surface water discharges to the Caloosahatchee River.

Jason Shondre, assistant director for public utilities, told the council the overall program is part of a multi‑year consent‑order compliance plan. The central plant project began design in December 2023; the total project estimate is about $147 million, which includes roughly $9–$10 million already spent on design and early procurement and a negotiated guaranteed maximum price (GMP) for construction of about $138 million. Shondre said the city aims to have the project online by 2028 to meet the consent order’s timeline.

Shondre summarized the technical scope: advanced filtration (5‑micron filters), upgraded disinfection and reconfiguration of existing chlorine contact basins, new electrical and pumping buildings, ground improvement and protective berming for sea‑level and tidal resilience. The plant’s treatment would produce reclaimed water for distribution to customers, or when customer demand does not absorb the flow the city would use a deep injection well that is being installed at the central facility.

Shondre gave capacity figures: the project is sized for an average daily flow of about 11 million gallons per day and a peak hour flow near 40 million gallons. He said the city already completed a south plant reclaimed expansion in 2023 and a deep injection well at the central plant is due to be online by the end of the year.

Funding: Shondre said the city has $33 million in awarded funds so far — about $20 million in State Revolving Fund (SRF) principal‑forgiveness and roughly $13.5 million in a state water quality grant. He said staff has submitted larger funding requests (an approximately $90 million ask across programs) and is on the recommended list for Resilient Florida and Alternative Water Supply grant programs, but amounts and timing remain uncertain. Shondre said Lee County Utilities would pay 50% of the local share under existing interlocal arrangements.

Next steps and council options: staff will present a negotiated GMP (~$138 million) to the council at the next regular meeting and recommended approval to avoid a longer hard‑bid process that staff said could produce fewer bidders, a premium price and roughly a six‑month delay. Alternatives discussed were (a) reject the GMP and complete design for competitive hard bidding (staff cautioned this could increase final cost and delay start), or (b) request modifications or additional time from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to extend the consent‑order deadline (Shondre said only one utility, Jacksonville Electric Authority, has secured an extension and that was after multi‑year preparation).

Councilors expressed support for moving forward with the GMP to demonstrate commitment to the consent‑order timeline and to preserve competitive pricing. No formal vote occurred at the workshop; staff will present the GMP for council consideration at the next council meeting. Shondre and staff also said they will continue to pursue grants and principal‑forgiveness loans to reduce the ratepayer impact.