Major Overhaul at Tampa’s Wastewater Plant News Wastewater Nearly $200 million worth of upgrades are underway at Tampa’s Howard F. Curren Advanced Wastewater Plant and $80[...]

Nearly $200 million worth of upgrades are underway at Tampa's Howard F. Curren Advanced Wastewater Plant and $80 million more will begin soon as part of a major overhaul to upgrade aging infrastructure that services homes, businesses, schools, and hospitals from as far north as the Pasco County line, as far east as Interstate 75, and all the way down to MacDill Air Force Base. More than 630,000 people rely on Tampa's sprawling wastewater system.

Background¶

Built in the 1950's, the plant is located across 140 acres in the Port of Tampa Bay. Approximately 1,500 miles of interconnected wastewater pipes - about the distance between Tampa and Kansas City - transport wastewater to the plant for advanced treatment before it is eventually discharged into Hillsborough Bay. The plant treats about 60 million gallons of wastewater daily and up to 200 million gallons during extreme weather events.

New Project Approved¶

Last week, the Tampa City Council approved an $80 million project to upgrade the segment of the plant dedicated to nitrogen removal. This step is critical as an advanced wastewater treatment plant since advanced treatment - which includes removing harmful bacteria and disinfecting the wastewater - goes a step farther by removing nitrogen. Nitrogen removal protects marine life against algae growth and helps keep Tampa's surrounding bodies of water clean.

Major Projects Underway¶

The plant is bustling with construction as crews begin another major improvement project to the segment that treats the solid organic matter - referred to as "sludge" - before it is sent away for further treatment and disposal. The anaerobic digesters in this portion of the system remove Carbon from the wastewater. As part of the improvements, two new digesters are being constructed to replace the original ones which date back to the 1950s. Expected completion is set for early 2028.

Construction also continues at the Main Pump Station, where all seven of the 50-million-gallon-a-day pumps are being replaced, along with other upgrades. The $80 million project also includes resiliency features to ensure the station can continue to operate in the event of a flood. Since the plant is near sea level, raising electrical equipment is imperative to prevent service interruptions. Work is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

"We are in a critical point in Tampa's history where the infrastructure that quite literally holds our city together is in need of widespread and massive renovation," said Mayor Jane Castor. "Across Tampa we are investing hundreds of millions of dollars to upgrade the systems that allow us to live, work, and enjoy our life here in this beautiful city - from our utility systems, to our parks and roads, major investments are happening all around us."

PIPES Program¶

The major investments in Tampa's wastewater and water systems are made possible through the $3 billion PIPES (Progressive Infrastructure Planning to Ensure Sustainability) Program. Under Mayor Jane Castor's leadership and with the support of the Tampa City Council - so far since 2019 - more than $700 million has been invested to upgrade the wastewater plant, 36 of the 229 pumping stations, and approximately 200 miles of gravity and force main pipes.

Watch: B-Roll of Wastewater Plant