Water treatment project earns environmental award

Sarasota County’s project to expand and convert the Bee Ridge Water Reclamation Facility to advanced wastewater treatment has earned an Envision Gold Award from the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure.

Built in the 1990s, the 140-acre facility is being transformed into a state-of-the-art water reclamation plant to increase treatment capacity by 50% — from 12 million to 18 million gallons per day—while implementing advanced wastewater treatment technologies, including biological nutrient removal basins and Florida's largest membrane bioreactor system. The upgrades will significantly reduce nitrogen and phosphorus discharges, which can contribute to algae growth in waterways.

The project's technical scope required innovative approaches to engineering design and financing. Sarasota County secured a $105 million Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act low-interest loan, federal funding that helps utilities deliver infrastructure improvements while minimizing rate impacts on customers. 

The project is scheduled for completion by the end of 2025.