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City approves $378,890 upgrade for water control system, seeks improved monitoring and cyber protections
Summary
The Temple Terrace City Council authorized Phase 1 of a SCADA modernization project to replace obsolete water‑utility controls, add real‑time monitoring and strengthen cybersecurity. Funding of $378,890 was approved from the FY26 water budget and contingency reserves; council also fielded questions about how the upgrade links to longer‑term treatment plans.
The Temple Terrace City Council on June 2 approved the first phase of a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) modernization for the city’s water treatment system, a project city staff described as necessary to replace aging equipment, add real‑time monitoring and enhance cybersecurity protections.
Public Works Director Jason Warrenfield told the council the city’s water and wastewater operations rely on SCADA systems “to monitor control the treatment plants, wells, booster stations, pump stations, and our lift stations” and that “portions of the existing system have reached the end of life and they require replacement.” He said Phase 1 focuses on potable water components and on creating a scalable platform for future upgrades.
Warrenfield said $200,000 of the project was funded in the FY26 budget and that an additional $178,890 would come from the water and sewer utility contingency reserves, for a total cited in the presentation of $378,890. Council members asked technical and programmatic questions about how the SCADA work would relate to the larger water‑treatment master plan; staff replied the SCADA upgrade is needed regardless of whether the city proceeds with a replacement treatment plant or pursues a wholesale interconnection option.
The council moved the resolution to approve the sole‑source procurement for the SCADA phase, took public comment and adopted the resolution after roll‑call voice vote.
Why it matters: The SCADA network is central to day‑to‑day control of treatment and distribution assets; modernizing it is intended to reduce equipment failures, enable remote monitoring and improve defenses against cyber threats that can directly affect public‑health operations.
Votes at a glance: The council adopted the resolution on June 2; the record shows discussion and a roll‑call sequence during the meeting. The transcript documents at least one recorded opposition during the vote sequence but does not include a full named tally in the minutes.
What’s next: City staff will execute the Phase 1 procurements. Council members asked staff to explain how the upgrade dovetails with the city’s larger water treatment planning work at an upcoming workshop.
