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Sanford officials outline roughly $300 million in utility projects; $55M treatment work targeted for emerging contaminants
Summary
City utility leaders described a multi‑year capital improvement plan with major plant upgrades, alternative water sourcing and a roughly $55 million water‑treatment project for emerging contaminants (1,4‑dioxane and PFAS) that officials said is largely grant‑funded.
Sanford utility officials told the Sanford Says "Beyond City Hall" episode that the department is planning a large set of upgrades and projects to improve water treatment, expand capacity and address emerging contaminants.
Mike Cannon, utilities engineering manager, said the city is pursuing a roughly $55 million improvement at its main water treatment plant to treat contaminants including 1,4‑dioxane and PFAS/PFOA; he said the majority of that work is grant funded with loan forgiveness. "A lot of what we're always doing is looking for alternative funding sources for these projects so it doesn't always have to be from increase in rates," Cannon said.
Plants manager Mike Falcon and others estimated the department is planning roughly $80–100 million in projects in a given year and a roughly $300 million capital improvement projection over five years. Officials emphasized those figures are planning estimates, not guaranteed budgets, and that not all projects have secured funding.
Officials described the city’s approach to funding as a mix of enterprise fund revenue (utility bills), debt repayment, and grant opportunities through state and federal programs. Brent Johnson said staff meet with EPA and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to pursue grants and technical support.
Several projects mentioned include rebuilding headworks at the North plant, adding clarifiers and holding tanks, replacing aging electrical infrastructure and installing new generators and transfer pumps. Officials said some development‑driven infrastructure will be dedicated to the city and then maintained by operations staff.
The city said it will continue to seek grant and loan forgiveness opportunities to reduce rate impacts on customers, but warned that alternative water sources and new treatment technology will have cost implications that officials will manage through a combination of grants and rate planning.
