Florida Construction News staff writer
The City of Delray Beach will break ground Jan. 29, launching construction of a new water treatment plant, a $300 million project that city officials describe as the largest infrastructure investment in the city’s history.
The groundbreaking is scheduled for 11 a.m. at the existing Delray Beach Water Treatment Plant at 434 S. Swinton Ave. The project will replace a facility that has served the community for more than 60 years.
The new membrane water treatment plant will use advanced nanofiltration technology designed to improve drinking water quality and ensure compliance with current and future federal drinking water regulations. City officials say the facility will provide a more reliable water supply while strengthening the city’s ability to respond to storms, outages and long-term growth.
With a cumulative project value of approximately $287 million, the project is intended to modernize aging infrastructure and expand treatment capacity. Planned upgrades include enhanced backup power systems to maintain operations during emergencies and improvements aimed at long-term system resilience.
“The provision of safe and reliable drinking water is among the most fundamental responsibilities of local government, and therefore this project represents far more than a construction milestone,” City Manager Terrence R. Moore said in a statement. He said the project reflects a long-term investment in public health, regulatory compliance and infrastructure resilience.
Construction is being delivered using a progressive design-build approach with CDM Constructors Inc., a method intended to maintain cost certainty while advancing work on a complex, highly regulated utility project. The Delray Beach City Commission approved the next phase of construction in December, allowing the project to proceed on schedule.
Funding for the water treatment plant comes from two revenue bonds issued for water utility improvements. City officials said no additional city funds beyond the approved bond proceeds are required and the project does not rely on the city’s general fund.
Once completed, the facility is expected to serve Delray Beach residents and businesses for decades, supporting continued development while meeting increasingly stringent environmental and public health standards.
