City of Tampa Invests in Generator Upgrades News City Council, News General, News Wastewater City of Tampa Invest in Generator Upgrades to Prevent Hurricane-Related Power[...]

The City of Tampa is moving forward with infrastructure upgrades, investing in two stationary generators designed to prevent hurricane-related power outages and reduce the risk of future wastewater spills.

This investment comes after the City of Tampa Wastewater Department was fined by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) following permit exceedances that occurred between 2022 and 2025.

In March 2026, Tampa City Council approved a settlement agreement with FDEP addressing those exceedances.

Many of the incidents were tied to severe impacts from Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton. During Hurricane Helene, storm surge caused flooding at several wastewater pumping stations, while Hurricane Milton's high winds resulted in widespread power outages, leaving more than 100 stations without TECO power. These back-to-back storms placed extraordinary strain on the region's wastewater infrastructure.

As part of the settlement, the City was assessed a monetary penalty of $584,734. Instead of paying the fee directly, the agreement allowed the City to complete an in-kind environmental project valued at $877,144.50.

The approved project includes installing two stationary generators that will bolster the resiliency of the wastewater system and help maintain essential operations during future storm-related power disruptions.

The agreement also outlined penalties for future reportable overflows. Between March 8 and June 30, 2026, the City reported eight incidents with varied causes, including grease and debris blockages, damaged or defective pipes, third-party construction activity and operator error.

Three incidents involved reclaimed or treated effluent rather than untreated wastewater. When possible, crews recovered or contained the material, and several events had no impact on nearby water bodies.

To further strengthen system reliability, the City has proposed purchasing new laboratory equipment for the Howard F. Curren Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant as an additional in-kind environmental project. This proposal is currently under FDEP review.

Residential grease remains a leading cause of dry-weather wastewater overflows. The City continues routine inspections using closed-circuit television technology and scheduled system cleaning, with additional maintenance in areas requiring more frequent attention. Public education efforts also continue, reminding residents to keep fats, oils and grease out of household drains.

The City of Tampa remains committed to protecting public health, preserving local waterways and improving long-term system resilience. The City will continue collaborating with FDEP, strengthening preventative maintenance practices and reviewing each incident to identify further improvements.

Tampa is also advancing broader water and wastewater infrastructure upgrades through the Progressive Infrastructure Plan to Ensure Sustainability (PIPES), a $2.9 billion long-term program approved in 2019 to modernize the City's aging, 100-year-old systems serving more than 733,000 residents.