Fort Lauderdale opens new water treatment center as part of $666 million project

Fort Lauderdale, Florida – Fort Lauderdale celebrated the opening of the Prospect Lake Clean Water Center on Thursday, Oct. 15, as the city continues a gradual transition to a new drinking water treatment system serving residents and surrounding communities.

The approximately $666 million project, which includes related infrastructure improvements, replaces the nearly 70-year-old Fiveash Water Treatment Plant as the city’s primary drinking water treatment facility. The new center uses nanofiltration and ion exchange technology and is designed to produce up to 50 million gallons of drinking water each day.

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“This is a transformational investment in the future of Fort Lauderdale,” Mayor Dean Trantalis said. “We knew it was time to build a water system capable of meeting the needs of a growing city for decades to come. The Prospect Lake Clean Water Center delivers on that commitment with modern technology, greater resiliency and the clean, clear drinking water our residents expect and deserve.”

The facility is designed to improve the clarity and taste of drinking water while making the city’s supply more reliable. It also gives Fort Lauderdale greater flexibility to respond to changing water quality standards and emerging contaminants.

Storm protection is another feature of the project. The center is engineered to withstand Category 5 hurricane-force winds, strengthening the infrastructure supporting an essential public service.

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The city began introducing water from Prospect Lake into its distribution system in September. That process is taking place gradually as the new facility moves toward full operation.

Fiveash will continue to serve the water system in a different role. As treatment shifts to Prospect Lake, the older plant is transitioning into a storage and distribution center.

The project is being delivered through a public-private partnership involving the City of Fort Lauderdale, IDE Technologies, Ridgewood Infrastructure and Kiewit Water Facilities Florida Co.
Residents can find additional details about the facility and the ongoing transition at spotlightftl.com/water-treatment-plant.