On Tuesday, the Lee Board of County Commissioners awarded a $258 million construction contract to restore and enhance the Fort Myers Beach Water Reclamation Facility, expanding the capacity and making the facility more resilient to coastal flooding.
This project includes the demolition of several buildings and rehabilitation of the facility, which is needed due to diminished treatment capacity, aging infrastructure and damage sustained during Hurricane Ian.
The project will include hazard mitigation and flood-proofing elements to make the facility more resilient to coastal flooding, ensuring continued and reliable wastewater treatment for the Town of Fort Myers Beach and nearby unincorporated areas of Lee County.
Resiliency upgrades include elevating much of the equipment and buildings to reduce future flood damage. The upgraded facility will meet the requirements of Advanced Wastewater Treatment standards required by the Clean Waterways Act of 2020.
The competitively bid contract with Poole & Kent Company of Florida is for $258.5 million plus a 13% contingency. The Board approved the funding as part of the FY26 Utilities Capital Improvement Program. Funding for the project includes a mix of federal and state grants and State Revolving Fund (SRF) loans. Construction is anticipated to begin in March with an estimated project completion in 2030.