The November 2024 Water and Wastewater Market Recap covers interesting and useful water industry news for this month. It contains updates on industry drivers, notable projects, as well as some interesting reads.
Notable Capital Improvement Programs
Here are some recent, notable Capital Improvement Programs (CIPs). FirmoGraphs has deconstructed the CIPs into data elements, along with available project descriptions. Please feel free to request a meeting and review the data live in our business intelligence application.
Monterey Peninsula Water Management District, California
In the CIP covering the 2025-2027 fiscal years, Monterey Peninsula Water Management District, California, detailed plans to spend $85 million on capital projects, an increase of 24% from $69 million in its 2024-2026 CIP. The current CIP has 12 line items, compared to 18 line items in the prior CIP. The table below breaks down Monterey Peninsula Water Management District’s planned capital spending by business area for its last two CIPs.
CIP Spending Up 24% Due to $16 Million PWM Expansion Grant
Planned spending in the recent CIP increased by 24% which is related to the $16 million grant for the Pure Water Monterey (PWM) Expansion project.
$42 Million Investment in Pure Water Monterey Boosts Drought-Resistant Supply
The Monterey Peninsula Water Management District has one notable line item valued at $42 million: the Pure Water Monterey Water Purchase. This initiative focuses on creating a reliable, drought-resistant water supply by treating and reusing wastewater.
Click Here to See Monterey Peninsula Water Management District, California, CIP
City of Battle Creek, Michigan, Planned Capital Program Increased By 20%
In the CIP covering the 2025-2029 fiscal years, City of Battle Creek, Michigan detailed plans to spend $476 million on capital projects, an increase of 20% from $397 million in its 2024-2029 CIP. The current CIP has 246 line items, compared to 235 line items in the prior CIP. The table below breaks down Battle Creek’s planned capital spending by business area for its last two CIPs.
Large Increase in Recreation Budget Fueled by $20M Turf Project
Planned spending in the Recreation category increased by 338% due to a new project, the Installation of the Artificial Turf throughout Bailey Park Complex, worth $20million. Wastewater category also increased by 44% with funding for ongoing projects.
Battle Creek Invests $41 Million in Water and Transit Infrastructure
The City of Battle Creek, Michigan, has two notable line items valued at over $20 million. The largest line item is the Nano Filtration Addition at the RIM Plant, along with additional well field reserve development, under the Water category. This project aims to add Nano-filtration to the RIM plant to remove minerals such as iron and manganese, thus reducing hardness. Additionally, it will include the exploration and development of additional well field reserves to provide a secondary well water supply for redundancy to the VWF. Another $21 million is also planned under the Transit category for the construction of a new administrative, maintenance, and storage facility.
Click Here to See City of Battle Creek, Michigan, CIP
City of Asheville, North Carolina, Planned Spending Increased By 56%
In the CIP covering the 2025-2029 fiscal years, City of Asheville, North Carolina, detailed plans to spend $354 million on capital projects, an increase of 56% from $228 million in its 2024-2028 CIP. The current CIP has 64 line items, compared to 53 line items in the prior CIP. The table below breaks down Asheville’s planned capital spending by business area for its last two CIPs.
Water Resources Spending Increase Almost $150 Million
Planned spending on Water Resources increased by $146 million due to seven additional projects in the recent period. Funding for the construction of four new parking garages also contributed to an increase in the Parking Services category.
Over $50 Million Programmed for Water Resources Projects
Asheville has two notable line items valued at over $25 million and three at over $10 million. The largest line item is the North Fork & W. Debruhl Filter Enhancements & Building, worth $80 million, under the Water Resources category. Listed below are the other notable line items:
- Mills River WTP Improvements - Phase 3 - worth $40 million, under the Water Resources category.
- Sweeten Creek & Mills Gap Water Line Improvements - worth $18 million, under the
- North Fork & W. Debruhl Filter Rehabilitation - worth $13 million, under the Water Resources category.
- Coxe Avenue Complete Street - worth $12 million, under the General Government category.
Click Here to See City of Asheville, North Carolina, CIP
City of Saint Petersburg, Florida, Planned Capital Expenditure Increased By 23%
In the CIP covering the 2024-2028 fiscal years, City of Saint Petersburg, Florida, detailed plans to spend $961 million on capital projects, an increase of 13% from $850 million in its 2023-2027 CIP. The current CIP has 320 line items, compared to 278 line items in the prior CIP. The table below breaks down City of Saint Petersburg’s planned capital spending by business area for its last two CIPs.
Most Significant Increase in General Capital Improvement and Recreation and Culture Capital Improvement
Most of the business areas increased. The most significant increase goes to General Capital Improvement, which increased by $126 million with funding going to 32 new projects and programs, including Fleet Facility Replacement and PWA Campus (Pavement, Traffic Operations), worth $58 million and $27 million, respectively. The Recreation and Culture Capital Improvement also increased by 39% due to 39 new projects.
Over $20 Million Planned for Creek Pump Station
The City of Saint Petersburg, Florida, has two notable line items valued at over $10 million. The largest line item is the Bartlett Lake/Salt Creek Pump Station, under the Stormwater Drainage Capital Projects, worth $21 million. This project provides year one construction phase funding for a new master lift station to increase the stormwater conveyance capacity of Basin C. The other one is the DIS Upgrade 36" Transmission Main, worth nearly $21 million, under the Water Resources Capital Projects. This project provides design/engineering phase funding for the replacement of the almost 100 year old 36” main. The existing main has reached the end of its service life and needs to be replaced with a larger 48” includes evaluation of the location of the existing main and possible alternate locations for the new main.
Click Here to See City of Saint Petersburg, Florida, CIP
Saint Lucie County, Florida, Planned Capital Expenditure Increased By 30%
In the CIP covering the 2025-2027 fiscal years, Monterey Peninsula Water Management District, California, detailed plans to spend $85 million on capital projects, an increase of 24% from $69 million in its 2024-2026 CIP. The current CIP has 12 line items, compared to 18 line items in the prior CIP. The table below breaks down Monterey Peninsula Water Management District’s planned capital spending by business area for its last two CIPs.
Decrease Due to Project Completion; Increase Due to New Business Area
Planned spending in the Roads Impact Fees decreased by 32% due to projects completed, including Midway Road Widening Phase 1 (Jenkins Road to Selvitz Road) and Selvitz Road Improvements (Glades Cut Off Road to Edwards Road. Despite the decrease in many business areas, the recent CIP still increased due to the addition of the County Building business area with a total funding of $118 million.
Significant Projects Under the County Capital and Road Impact Fees Categories
Saint Lucie County has three notable line items valued at over $10 million. The largest line item is the Capital Maintenance Projects, worth $19 million, under the County Capital category. The other two belong to the Roads Impact Fees category: the Selvitz Rd and Glades Cut Off Rd Intersection Improvements and Jenkins Road Phase 1 (from Midway to Glades Cut Off Rd), worth $17 million and $12 million, respectively.
Click Here to See Saint Lucie County, Florida, CIP
Trending Blogs from Top AEC Firms
To stay abreast of industry marketing trends, we regularly review blogs of the nation's top consulting and construction firms. These are some notable customer-focused blogs in November.
Chicago’s Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Celebrates Robbins Park Phase 1 Completion and Phase 2 Kickoff
Summary: On November 4, 2024, Donohue published an article stating that the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) celebrated the completion of the first phase of the Robbins Heritage Park and Midlothian Creek Restoration Project on October 31, 2024. The project, aimed at addressing increased flooding, includes the creation of a stormwater park, pond, and creek improvements. The initiative will protect over 1,300 parcels, reduce flood risk to homes, and provide recreational and economic opportunities for the Village of Robbins. The final phase will focus on further development, including open spaces, parkland, and job-creating redevelopment.
City of Yuma and PCL Construction Break Ground on Desert Dunes Water Reclamation Facility Expansion
Summary: On November 8, 2024, PCL Construction announced in a blog that it had broken ground on the Desert Dunes Water Reclamation Facility expansion in Yuma, Arizona, marking the start of a $100 million project to double the facility's capacity. This expansion aims to increase the facility’s wastewater treatment capacity from 3.3 million to 6.6 million gallons per day, meeting the city's growing water infrastructure needs. The original contractor, PCL, had previously worked on the facility in 2003 and will now implement new innovations, including a new ultraviolet disinfection system and additional filters. The upgrade responds to the increased wastewater demands driven by Yuma's rapid growth, ensuring that the city can continue supporting both residential and industrial development.
What do the EPA’s new Maximum Contaminant Levels for PFAS mean for drinking water suppliers?
Summary: On November 14, 2024, GEI Consultants published an article outlining the EPA's new regulations, which, effective June 2024, set strict maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for six PFAS chemicals in drinking water to protect public health. These chemicals, used in many products, can contaminate water supplies and pose health risks. Water suppliers must monitor PFAS levels quarterly, report results, and take corrective actions if MCLs are exceeded. The rules also require solutions for violations by 2029, and disadvantaged communities can access funding for treatment systems. Compliance ensures safer drinking water and helps mitigate the public health impact of PFAS contamination.
Award-Winning Plan Charts Future for Georgia County’s Water and Sewer Needs
Summary: On November 22, 2024, Freese and Nichols announced in a post that the Jackson County Water and Sewerage Authority (JCWSA) had partnered with them to create a water and wastewater master plan addressing rapid growth in northeast Georgia. This plan, which looks ahead to 2050, includes forecasts for water and wastewater demands, system evaluations, and a capital improvement roadmap. Recognized with the 2024 GAWP Master Planning Spotlight Award, it highlights solutions to manage both short-term and long-term growth. JCWSA serves about 12,000 customers, and the plan aims to meet their increasing needs while ensuring reliable service.
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