City Looks to Add Second Water Treatment Facility

The city is planning a water treatment facility that makes brackish water drinkable and wants to hear residents' thoughts on the project. 

The plan to expand the potable water system with a second reverse osmosis water treatment plant capable of treating brackish water through a series of filters is expected to start in January.

The public is asked to come out to give their thoughts on the project at 4 p.m. Tuesday at the Fire Training Facility at Fire Station No. 48, 1700 Belcher Road. 

The city is spending nearly $50 million on myriad projects in an attempt to increase tank capacity and reduce the amount of water it buys from the county. Clearwater buys 70 percent of its drinking water from the county. 

There are three major water production projects making their way through the approval process. The city is adding a plant that treats brackish water into drinking water, expanding the capacity of its existing water processing plant and 12 new wellfields for pumping water to fill the new tank.

The system currently creates about 5 million drinkable gallons of water daily, officials said. After the projects are completed, the systems should be making 10 million gallons daily.

A second reverse osmosis plant at 21133 US Highway 19 N will be built with a storage tank able to hold 6.25 million gallons of water a day. Wellfields would pump in the water from nearly 200 feet beneath the state.

The and make other improvements to the city's existing reverse osmosis plant near Palmetto Street is expected to begin in the summer.

The plan to add the 12 wellfield sites is expected to start this year.

If you go:

What: Public meeting about second reverse osmosis water plant

When: 4 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday (April 3)

Where: Fire Training Facility at Fire Station No. 48, 1700 Belcher Road