This week we are also excited to introduce the second major effort of relocating this treatment plant, which is to re-direct the underground piping and conveyance system so that wastewater flows to the new plant. This portion of the relocation project is highly involved and will require work throughout the entire wastewater service area.

This week, we can see the final interior finishing of the reclaim storage tank as the project manager and site engineer conduct final inspections before the tank is leak-tested and painted. When operational, this tank will provide nearly two million gallons of water per day to the Treasure Coast Energy Center for cooling its natural gas turbines producing electricity.

This week, FPUA’s Citizen-Led Utility Advisory Committee is hosting a public meeting: “Updates: Relocating FPUA’s Sewer Treatment Plant” that will be presented by the FPUA Director of Water and Wastewater Systems Bo Hutchinson, FPUA Operations Supervisor of Water Reclamation Mike Martin, and FPUA Supervising Engineer of Water and Wastewater Lugey Dawson. Planning for relocating the treatment plant has been ongoing over the last 20 years which makes this UAC progress update especially rewarding.

This week, crews are knocking out the final tasks of building the reclaim storage tank by bolting up the ladder, catwalks, and level sensor before completing the paintjob on the tank’s walls and dome. The Nereda tanks are also taking on a more finished look with the framing of the pipe wall- portals that will deliver wastewater flows to-and-from the treatment tank. We can also see the interior structure of the Nereda tanks and the concrete pillars that will support the overflow weirs and wastestream channels that will carry clarified flows to the final steps of treatment.

This week, we proudly welcomed film producers from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (@FDEP) who filmed and photographed progress of our monumental project here in Fort Pierce, which will be used as demonstration of some of the ways that FDEP is investing in water quality improvements throughout the state.  

The film crew began production at our South Hutchinson Island Wastewater Reclamation Facility (IWRF) capturing the natural beauty of Fort Pierce and our current operations. We then moved to the new Mainland Wastewater Treatment Facility (MWRF) for a tour by Mike Martin, FPUA MWRF Project Manager. After a safety briefing and overview of the new WRF facility, the crew began documenting the ongoing construction project. 

This week, heavy rainfall did not slow us down. The final corner section of the AquaNereda concrete tanks was poured, allowing the crews to now focus on the broad exterior and interior walls for the next two months. We’re also seeing more footer and foundation progress being made on the operations and maintenance building, with the first round of masonry work not far behind to bring this building out of the ground.

This week, we can see that progress continues on the O&M building foundation footers. Crews are also setting up the infrastructure and foundations for the combined office and maintenance shop space that will house and support the entire wastewater division of FPUA. Staff from plant operations, wastewater collection, and the new and expanding low-pressure sewer division will all be headquartered inside, along with a state-of-the-art maintenance and motor shop for repair and maintenance of pumps, motors, blowers, and field equipment.

Last week, we shared progress updates on completing the reclaim storage tank of the new Mainland Wastewater Reclamation Facility (MWRF), pre-stressing the tank walls, framing the AquaNereda basin walls, and roughing in electrical and conduit work for the facility. 

This week’s photos show that crews have completed the reclaim tank’s pre-stressing process and are hard at work spraying the final coats of concrete to finish off the structural phase of its construction. Soon, crews will break down the internal scaffolding, coat the interior, and leak test the reclaim tank before demobilization. 

This week, we can see how much closer we are to completing the reclaim storage tank of the new Mainland Wastewater Reclamation Facility (MWRF). Crews are now completing the final steps of wrapping the tensioned wire around the tank to “pre-stress” the walls to ensure hydraulic strength.

NEW UPDATE PHOTOS: Wastewater Wednesdays!

Last week, we shared about crews working on the Nereda tank forming and reinforcing the 27” concrete tank walls, pouring the first T-section and preparing the tank’s dome for its final concrete pour.

This week we can now see the completed concrete roof dome on the reclaim storage tank!

Crews began pouring concrete shortly before sunrise over the weekend. We can now move on to the final phases of tank construction, including the pre-stressing/tensioning of the wall and final concrete finish coats.

This week, we can see that the Nereda tank foundation is finally complete! Crews are now moving on to forming and reinforcing the 27” concrete tank walls, with the first T-section being poured early tomorrow.

Today’s Wastewater Wednesday update shows some exciting new progress and the sustained forward momentum on the AquaNereda treatment basins and the reclaim storage tank. The final Nereda tank foundation concrete pour is happening this week and the crews have already begun setting up the tank wall forms and reinforcement steel framing in preparation for the first wall pours later this month!

This week we’re seeing more progress made on the Nereda basin foundation, with only two pours left before crews begin working on the 20 foot vertical pours of the basin walls!

This week’s Wastewater Wednesday features updates and photos showing the continuing progress of the reclaim storage tank’s construction, now nearing its final wall thickness and ready for the crew to move on to framing/building the domed roof of the tank.

FPUA Water Reclamation Operations Supervisor Mike Martin recently presented an update on the new Mainland Water Reclamation Facility to the Fort Pierce Sunrise Kiwanis Club, an active local community club that's dedicated to youth in our community. During his presentation, Mike shared a virtual tour of the completed plant, along with aerial photos showing progress of the AquaNereda foundation and the reuse tank. 

Today’s photos show the first major concrete pour of the AquaNereda basin’s foundation, with roughly 600 yards out of a total more than 3,500 yards poured this week. This will continue every week after until the foundation is done and ready to support the future walls. The build team has also started layering the pre-stressed concrete reuse storage tank with its first coats of shotcrete to add structural support.

Today’s photos show the structural framing progress and major steel reinforcement of the primary treatment tank foundation, which is scheduled for its first of multiple concrete pours next week. The pre-stressed concrete reuse tank structure is vertical and is also ready for its first coat of shotcrete this week.

NEW RELEASE: We are very proud to launch Wastewater Wednesdays with this Facebook post. Every Wednesday, visit the FPUA Facebook page for another update about construction progress of the Sewer Treatment Plant that we’re currently building on Energy Lane.