For decades, yellow-hued water has flowed from faucets in homes, hotels and restaurants serviced by Fiveash, the 1950s-era Fort Lauderdale water plant that\u2019s way past its prime.<\/p>\n
But a pricey new water plant dubbed Prospect Lake Clean Water Center is on the rise. And when it opens later this year, crystal-clear water will stream out of its pipes.<\/p>\n
That clear water will come at a cost: $666 million, which comes to $1.4 billion over the course of a 30-year loan. Water customers will pay the tab.<\/p>\n
Like Fiveash, the new water plant will serve customers in Fort Lauderdale, Oakland Park, Tamarac, Wilton Manors, Davie, Port Everglades, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea and Sea Ranch Lakes.<\/p>\n
Unlike Fiveash, it has been built to withstand a Category 5 hurricane.<\/p>\n
Seven years ago, Mayor Dean Trantalis described Fiveash as being held together by spit and chewing gum<\/a>.<\/p>\n Nine years ago, a consultant warned Fort Lauderdale that Fiveash was on the brink of failure.<\/p>\n The new water plant is being built under a public-private partnership between the city, IDE Technologies and Ridgewood Infrastructure. IDE and Ridgewood will manage the operation and maintenance of the plant for 30 years, from late 2026 to 2056.<\/p>\n Partnering with the private sector was key in getting the plant built faster, Trantalis said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe progress we\u2019ve made at the Prospect Lake Clean Water Center is a testament to the success of this public-private partnership and our shared commitment to building a more resilient future for Fort Lauderdale,\u201d Tranalis told the South Florida Sun Sentinel.<\/p>\n \u201cClean, clear, reliable drinking water is one of the most important services a city provides,\u201d the mayor said. \u201cThis project represents one of the most significant infrastructure investments we can make in our city\u2019s future. Through this partnership, we are delivering safe, reliable drinking water for generations to come.\u201d<\/p>\n The new plant will produce 50 million gallons of drinking water every day using cutting-edge nanofiltration and ion-exchange technologies to deliver clear, high-quality water.<\/p>\n That technology is also expected to help remove emerging contaminants, including potentially toxic \u201cforever chemicals\u201d known as PFAS or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances.<\/p>\n