U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel listens to Water Treatment Plant Manager James T. Lee at the Delray Beach plant. Photo provided
By Rich Pollack
When U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel and Delray Beach Mayor Shelly Petrolia toured the city’s water treatment plant Feb. 8, they took a stroll through a facility that was built before Petrolia was born and when Frankel was just 4 years old.
“It was like you’re walking back to the 1950s,” Petrolia said. “The interesting thing is that it still works.”
That said, both Petrolia and Frankel know that an upgrade is desperately needed and are looking forward to a new water treatment plant, currently in the planning process.
“It’s long overdue,” Petrolia said.
While the city has yet to identify funding sources for the new plant — which is estimated to cost between $60 million and $80 million — Frankel said that federal dollars could be available.
“In the bipartisan infrastructure bill there are two very-low-interest loan programs that the city may be able to take advantage of,” Frankel said.
The law, she said, allocated a total of $35 billion for infrastructure improvements nationwide, with $1.6 billion of that coming to Florida.
Delray Beach is in the process of receiving close to $11 million from the federal government thanks to the earlier-passed American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
About $4.6 million of that is being used as revenue replacement in the city’s 2021-2022 budget. How the city will use the rest will be discussed as the city begins its 2022-2023 budget.
Whether any of that money will be earmarked for a new water treatment plan is still undecided. City leaders are expected to discuss funding for the plant in the next few months.
In the interim, Petrolia said, federal dollars will be helping the city as it takes on as many as 75 capital improvement projects on the horizon. Those projects range from building a new fire station on Linton Boulevard to increasing the reliability of the water, sewer and stormwater infrastructure.
While residents may see some of the projects become reality in the not-too-distant future, it will be several years before a new water treatment plant is working.
Construction isn’t expected to begin until the 2024-2025 fiscal year and the plant isn’t expected to be ready for use until 2026. Although the design phase of the project has not begun, a preliminary feasibility study calls for a nanofiltration and membrane softening plant.
That type of system is similar to reverse osmosis and filters out many types of pathogens but does not require healthy minerals — such as calcium and magnesium — to be added back into the water.
“We’re looking at making higher quality water all around,” Petrolia said, adding that improving the color of the water is also a priority.
She said enhancing Delray Beach’s drinking water has become a priority for the commission for several years and the new plant will make that happen.
“It will ensure a state-of-the-art water treatment process, advance the city’s monitoring and control systems and improve water pressure and serve the needs of the city for many years to come.”
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