Florida Construction News staff writer
The city of Tampa has completed a $93 million upgrade to the nearly 100-year-old David L. Tippin Water Treatment Facility, marking a major step in modernizing the city’s water infrastructure.
City officials say the improvements will enhance water quality, increase operational efficiency and help meet growing demand across the department’s 220-square-mile service area.
“This is a major step forward in ensuring Tampa’s continued access to clean, high-quality drinking water,” Mayor Jane Castor said. “The city of Tampa knows a good foundation to a thriving city starts with a strong infrastructure.”
Project highlights
- New high-service pump station: Equipped with eight 900-horsepower pumps, the new station boosts the system’s capacity to deliver treated water across Tampa.
- Upgraded disinfection process: A newly constructed chlorine contact basin enhances the facility’s ability to disinfect drinking water, extending its shelf life within the distribution network.
- Improved storage capacity: The addition of a new center clearwell, along with upgrades to the existing system, significantly improves the plant’s storage and operational resilience.
The Tippin facility upgrade is part of a broader slate of improvements under the city’s PIPES (Progressive Infrastructure Planning to Ensure Sustainability) program, a $2.9 billion investment in long-term sewer and water infrastructure projects.
According to the Tampa Water Department, the modernized facility will help ensure reliable access to safe drinking water for generations to come.
“The upgrades we’ve made at this historic facility are designed to deliver lasting results,” the department said in a statement. “We’re investing today to protect Tampa’s water future.”
