Joe Petrone, a project manager for the Prospect Lake Clean Water Center, told the commission the site is moving into startup and commissioning after months of equipment deliveries and construction.

"All of the major equipment is on‑site already, and we're really starting to enter the next phase, which is connecting everything together," Petrone said, noting weekly drone photography keeps staff informed on progress. He pointed to the administration building nearing completion and the nano‑filtration building enclosing membrane vessels.

Petrone said the first injection well is complete and the second is expected to be finished in December; by January the plant will have two injection wells ready for commissioning. The team plans to introduce raw water from the well field to flush and test systems this month and then conduct systematic testing through the next seven to eight months. Staff expect the first group of city employees (10 people) to be onsite in January 2026 for commissioning work, with additional staff phased in May 2026.

Pilots to support treatment planning are scheduled: an OCCT (online chloramination / distribution conditioning) pilot will start in January 2026 to study impacts on distribution piping, and a PFAS pilot component will arrive later in November and begin full operation in December 2025 to test PFAS treatment approaches ahead of state/federal requirements through 2031.

City commissioners asked timing and capacity questions. Petrone confirmed the facility is planned as a 50 million‑gallons‑per‑day (MGD) nanofiltration plant designed to serve Fort Lauderdale’s utility customers and surrounding service areas. He said the 48‑inch pipeline connecting the plant to the city distribution system is complete and that commissioning milestones are on schedule for a projected September 2026 full online date.

Why this matters: The plant is a major water‑infrastructure investment designed to increase supply and address future PFAS rules; pilots are intended to validate distribution impacts, PFAS removal strategies and reduce operational uncertainty ahead of full commissioning.

Next steps: Staff will proceed with the system flushing and pilots, complete the second injection well in December, continue hiring operational staff, and report commissioning milestones to the commission.