Polk Regional Water Cooperative breaks ground on landmark water production facility

First-of-its-kind reverse osmosis facility in central Florida to serve 10 member water agencies

BARTOW, FL – The Polk Regional Water Cooperative (PRWC) has broken ground on its Southeast Water Production Facility in Lake Wales, Florida. The February 26 ceremony marked the start of construction on the first reverse osmosis (RO) water treatment plant in central Florida, representing a major milestone in securing sustainable water resources for the region.

Located along Boy Scout Camp Road in Lake Wales, the facility will utilize brackish water from the Lower Floridan Aquifer to produce up to 12.5 million gallons per day of high-quality drinking water for distribution to 10 PRWC member utilities.

“This groundbreaking represents more than just the start of construction – it’s a testament to the power of regional cooperation,” said PRWC Executive Director Eric DeHaven. “Through the combined efforts of our member governments, we have executed a program that will provide sustainable water supplies for generations to come. This facility demonstrates what we can achieve when local governments work together toward a common goal.”

The project employs advanced RO technology, which purifies brackish groundwater by forcing it through semi-permeable membranes that remove dissolved minerals, salts, and other compounds. This sophisticated process will transform naturally brackish water from approximately 1,500 feet underground into fresh drinking water that meets or exceeds all federal and state quality standards. The facility’s RO system is equipped to treat a challenging, sulfide-driven raw water quality.   

“The Southeast Water Production Facility sets a new standard for alternative water supply in central Florida,” said Carollo Engineers Project Manager Mary Thomas. Carollo Engineers is the project’s design engineer, providing engineering services for the water production facility and program management for the wellfield and transmission system. “By utilizing reverse osmosis to tap into the brackish Lower Floridan Aquifer, we’re helping PRWC diversify its water supply portfolio while delivering high-quality water to neighboring communities.”

The project delivers significant environmental benefits by reducing reliance on the Upper Floridan Aquifer, helping prevent adverse impacts on natural systems and wetlands while providing a drought-resistant water supply source. The design utilizes deep well injection technology to safely dispose of concentrated salts and minerals 8,000 feet underground, and a secondary gypsum desaturation process will reduce precipitation from the injectate and protect the long-term viability of the well.

The Southeast Water Production Facility project includes three major components:

·       A wellfield tapping the brackish Lower Floridan Aquifer through wells extending approximately 1,500 feet deep.

·       A state-of-the-art RO treatment plant featuring advanced membrane filtration systems, real-time monitoring, and a concentrate treatment process.

·       Approximately 61 miles of transmission pipeline to deliver water throughout the region.

Construction will continue into 2028, with water delivery expected to commence in mid-2028. The facility will initially produce 7.5 million gallons per day to serve the communities of Auburndale, Bartow, Davenport, Dundee, Eagle Lake, Haines City, Lake Alfred, Lake Hamilton, Winter Haven, and Polk County. The facility’s capacity will later expand to 12.5 million gallons daily to meet projected future demand.

The project has garnered substantial support from multiple agencies, with the Southwest Florida Water Management District providing nearly $200 million of the project’s cost in grant funding. Additional financial backing includes over $50 million in state appropriations, low-interest State Revolving Fund loans, and a $223 million Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loan through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

For more information about the Southeast Water Production Facility or the Polk Regional Water Cooperative, visit www.PRWCwater.org