Water Crew Saves $1.8M Over Three Years News General, News Water Department Tampa Water Department’s In-House Construction Team Saves Nearly $1.8MTampa crews continue to save[...]

Tampa crews continue to save City dollars by completing key infrastructure projects in-house, rather than hiring outside contractors.

The Tampa Water Department has saved nearly $1.8 million in construction costs over the past three years since establishing the City's first Engineering Construction Team.

Established in late 2023, the 10-person Engineering Construction Team handles critical water infrastructure projects that might otherwise be completed by outside contractors. By using its own skilled workforce, the department maintains greater oversight of construction projects while reducing costs and improving efficiency.

Between October 2025 and September 2026, the team saved approximately $445,000 in labor and construction costs compared with outsourcing the work. Team members also installed 2,895 linear feet of water main during this time, often replacing pipelines that are more than 80 years old.

"Every dollar matters when it comes to maintaining Tampa's water infrastructure," said Water Department Director Rory Jones. "By bringing key construction projects in-house, we're reducing costs, improving efficiency and making our funding go further, all while delivering the critical upgrades our community depends on."

The department continues to partner with outside contractors on major infrastructure improvements, while the in-house team provides a cost-effective way to tackle key projects as labor and material costs continue to rise.

The Engineering Construction Team is currently in the final stages of a six-month water main replacement project along West Empedrado Street in the Palma Ceia neighborhood. The project is replacing approximately 2,500 linear feet of aging water main with new, larger-diameter pipes, that will help improve water pressure, water quality, and enhance fire protection for the community.

The team consists of construction technicians and support staff, with a combined 90 years of experience in their fields, including hands-on work on city infrastructure projects. Their expertise allows the department to complete essential improvements using its own workforce while keeping construction costs in check.