Charlotte County and Punta Gorda officials entered a 20-year water supply agreement to meet future demand and secure additional resources through the Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority.
In addition to sharing resources to avoid costly duplication, both utilities systems are upgrading infrastructure, efforts that began before the joint city-county water supply plan, which is set to take effect in July 2028.
Charlotte County Interim Utilities Director Claire Jubb and Punta Gorda Utilities Director Tom Spencer, in separate interviews, outlined capital improvement plans aimed at supporting the area’s growing population.
Charlotte County
Jubb said the county is constructing its first water tower near U.S. 41 and Notre Dame Boulevard.
“The concrete pedestal tower will hold 2 million gallons of water to better support fire flow requirements and peak demands in the South County service area,” she said.
Charlotte County Utilities’ wastewater service area spans nearly 45 square miles and serves about 49,000 customers. The system is divided into three regions: Mid County, between the Peace and Myakka rivers; West County, west of the Myakka River; and South County, southeast of the Peace River.
The county is expanding the East Port Water Reclamation Facility, its largest, increasing treatment capacity from 6 million gallons per day to 9 million gallons per day. The project includes advanced wastewater treatment technology designed to remove more contaminants, pathogens and nutrients.
The expansion is expected to be completed by early 2027.
In South County, the Burnt Store Water Reclamation Facility also is being upgraded.
“To meet exponential growth along the Burnt Store corridor, the Board of County Commissioners supports a packaged wastewater plant,” Jubb said. “This modular system can be installed on-site and provides immediate capacity to treat more wastewater.”
She said the equipment is expected soon, while engineering design continues for a permanent expansion of the 500,000-gallons-per-day facility.
Punta Gorda Utilities Director Tom Spencer speaks during a City Council meeting. City officials are advancing water and wastewater system upgrades to meet growing demand.
Punta Gorda government
Punta Gorda
Spencer said the city is expanding its reverse osmosis plant and well field.
“This will take the plant from producing 4 million gallons per day to 8 million gallons per day,” he said.
Construction of a new wastewater treatment plant is nearing completion
“We’re working to assess and upgrade both the master and booster wastewater pumping facilities and their emergency generators,” Spencer said. “We also have several critical upgrades taking place in our water distribution and wastewater collection systems.”
Funding
Charlotte County’s water tower, reclamation facilities and wastewater expansion projects are funded through a mix of local sales taxes, utility capital improvement funds, low-interest state loans and state and federal grants.
The East Port expansion is financed through the Florida State Revolving Fund loan program, an American Rescue Plan Act grant, Supplemental Appropriation for Hurricanes Fiona and Ian funding and county capital improvement funds.
The water tower and related distribution projects are supported by Environmental Protection Agency grants, Florida Department of Environmental Protection appropriations and additional hurricane recovery funding.
Punta Gorda received $22.8 million in principal forgiveness through Florida’s State Revolving Fund under the Supplemental Appropriation for Hurricanes Helene and Milton program.
The funding is intended to strengthen water and wastewater systems against future storms. The city applied for $66.3 million in total project funding, with remaining costs expected to be covered through additional sources, Spencer said.