Project: Tampa Bay Water Desalinization Plant

Location: Tampa Bay Region, Florida

Public Partner: Tampa Bay Water

Private Partner: American Water-Pridesa

History: Tampa Bay Water first commissioned the construction of a seawater desalination plant in 1998. Due to bankruptcies of the contracted development and construction firms and inefficiencies of the filtering process, Tampa Bay Water re-acquired the facility and contracted with American Water-Pridesa in 2005 for complete overhaul and management of the Treatment facility.

Financing: The initial unsuccessful 1998 project cost totaled $110 million, but remediation of the plant cost an additional $48 million, bringing the total project cost to $158 million. American Water-Pridesa entered into a contract for remediation, construction and operation with Tampa Bay Water in 2004 for $29.1 million. The contract also included an owner's allowance of $2.5 million. December 2007, Tampa Bay Water accepted the plant, taking over full ownership duties, per the agreement. American Water-Pridesa no longer operates the plant. The cost Tampa Bay Water charges its member governments is revenue neutral and only covers expenses. Members may determine the per gallon price to charge their customers.

Measures of Success: The Tampa Bay Seawater Desalination Plant now supplies the region with ten percent of its drinking water.