Haven is First in Polk with AWT-$300,000 Under Budget!

Posted by Bob Gernert on September 10, 2008 at 2:53 pm

City of Winter Haven officials today dedicated a redesigned and upgraded Advanced Wastewater Treatment (AWT) facility at Wastewater Treatment Plant #3 south of the city. The $15+ million upgrade is one of 60 such projects underway throughout the state and the first in Polk to become operational. (Update: 9-12-08: Jacksonville-based Haskell Co. built the $16 million project and Peter Haskell shocked city officials with a $300,000 refund of money his company didn’t spend.) Mayor Nat Birdsong noted, “It is unheard of to receive a refund of this magnitude. It just doesn’t happen.”

It did today.

Birdsong added, “We all watch wastewater go down the drain and, for the most part, would rather forget about it.” He went on to explain that the new AWT capability actually enhances Winter Haven’s sustainability in that the treated wastewater can be used to replace up to 60% of the potable water currently used in irrigation. And with every million gallons of AWT product used for irrigation — there’s a million gallons of potable water available for resident consumption. In the end, something we’d rather forget becomes an invaluable resource to sustain our community.

The AWT project eliminates the spray fields that were previously used at WWTP #3 and allows some 1200 acres to now be used for economic development purposes including the new CSX inter modal rail terminal.

The city’s successful conversion of the plant to AWT status raises the bar once more on their commitment to becoming a “green” community.

The photograph at right shows a structure designed to introduce chlorine into the wastewater to help clean it. The chlorine is later removed in another structure.

Platinum Bank

See other entries filed in: CSX - Winter Haven, City of Winter Haven, Economic Development, Real Estate, Success Stories, Technology

REMARKS   2 Total remarks on this post. Add your own remarks below

  • September 11th, 2008 at 9:24 am
    Sandy Moore

    RE: refund for the wastewater treatment plant. I, too, (working in the engineering/architecture/constuction industry) find it pretty amazing to get a refund from firms who complete a project under budget. In fact, I’ve NEVER heard of such a thing. Having said that, I think it was a bit of a slight not to recognize the generous consultants by name in your announcement. I for one would like send kudos to them for their generosity, and their obvious committment to the City, especially in these economic times where many firms in our industry are laying people off and lying low with any expenditures.
    It is a great boon for the City and a step in the right direction for becoming a leader as a “green” community.
    Regards,
    Sandy Moore

  • September 12th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
    Bob Gernert

    Ms. Moore,

    You raise a valid point suggesting that we name the company refunding the money and that update has been added to the post. Thank you for your input.

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