Winter Springs approves $65.8M replacement to aging wastewater plant – cheaper than budgeted 

The Winter Springs City Commission gave final approval Monday on a new $65.8 million wastewater treatment plant, clearing the way for construction to start in the next 90 days. 

It’s come after years of planning and increases in residents’ water bills to pay for the new plants. Winter Springs Mayor Kevin McCann said the project should have been started “ten years ago,” but said it was an important moment for the city.

“These plants will be cheaper to operate than the existing plants,” McCann said. “The rate increases that we passed were painful, we acknowledge that. But it set us up to a point where these major projects are moving forward.”

The city’s water systems have become a political topic, starting with a wastewater spill in 2021 that led to a fish kill. Ultimately, Mayor Charles Lacey resigned over the incident, leading to McCann’s appointment. 

Eventually, the entire City Commission was replaced in subsequent elections. The current timeline would have the new plant “substantially completed” in October 2028 – just before the 2028 elections. 

McCann is up for re-election this November. His opponent, Jesse Phillips, also called the funding for the new wastewater plant a win.

“But initially this was going to be much cheaper had they started when they initially planned to start,” Phillips said. “COVID reset the market and everything got drastically more expensive after the pandemic. My only complaint is we’re now bearing the brunt of that financially.”

Funding for the project is primarily through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s State Revolving Fund, or SRF. That program offers low-interest loans for water infrastructure projects in the state. 

Winter Springs initially got $5.4 million in SRF funding for the design, and then received a $54.1 million loan for construction. The city got an additional $19.1 million from hurricanes Helene and Milton funding – and that loan comes with a 50% “principal forgiveness.”

Separately, the city also got a $600,000 grant for the project. 

Ultimately, the guaranteed maximum price for the new wastewater plant is $65.8 million, with an additional $5.5 million set aside as a contingency fund. Once construction of the new wastewater plant begins, the city’s consultant, Carollo Engineers, told commissioners design on the second plant will ramp up.

“Once we get into construction on the east plant, the west plant will follow into the design process,” said Erica Stone, the project manager with Carollo Engineers. “So the next time you’ll see us seeking approval for anything will be about this time in 2027 when we’ll be applying for construction funding for the west facility.”

The plants will also have the ability to expand in the future.

“A total of two common-wall biological treatment trains will be constructed of cast-in-place reinforced concrete with the anticipation of a third future tank,” the contractor wrote in the bid document. “The existing reclaimed pump station will be demolished and a new station constructed. The new station will include four new vertical turbine pumps installed in cans on a reinforced concrete slab. This new station will discharge the effluent to the City’s existing public access reclaimed water system for final disposal.” 

In other news, the Winter Springs City Commission: 

• Heard from residents upset over a recent fish kill at Oak Forest Lake, a private lake that gets stormwater from nearby developments. Winter Springs will hold a workshop Wednesday, April 1 at 9 a.m. to discuss stormwater policy and go over a rate study that will likely lead to increased rates. 
• Appointed a seven-member Charter Review Commission. The Florida Legislature was considering a bill to give the mayor a vote by eliminating a commission seat, an item backed by 2026 mayoral candidate Phillips. Passage of that bill wasn’t pursued after the city pledged to hold a charter review, which may include changes to the mayor’s duties. The members of the Charter Review Commission include:
  • David Bear, a Winter Springs attorney who has worked with Save Rural Seminole. 
  • Art Gallo, a resident who attends most commission meetings.
  • Former Winter Springs Commissioner Jean Hovey.
  • Former Winter Springs Mayor Paul Partyka. 
  • Attorney Phil Kaprow, who was also the general counsel for the Seminole County Supervisor of Elections. 
  • Eddie Rivera, a pastor at Action Church in Winter Springs.  
  • Loui Hilal, the former president of the Highlands homeowner’s association.
• The city also got a look at the annual financial report, which you can read here.