Tampa Bay Water (TBW), the regional water authority serving Hillsborough County, the City of Tampa, Pasco County, the City of New Port Richey, Pinellas County, and the City of St. Petersburg in Florida, plays a crucial role in managing and supplying bulk water services to the region. In 2024-2025, U.S. Water successfully provided essential upgrades to the TBW Seawater Desalination Plant, ensuring the facility’s continued ability to meet the region’s growing water needs.
The plant, constructed in 2020, showed signs of significant corrosion and aging when U.S. Water began contract operations in October 2023. During plant startup in November 2023, one of the RO units’ structural members broke due to corrosion, causing a pressure vessel to fall from the frame. The plant was temporarily deemed unsafe for operations, and TBW entered into a rehabilitation contract with US Water in January of 2024.
The rehabilitation focused on replacing five structural frames that support the reverse osmosis pressure vessels and membranes. Each frame supports 168 pressure vessels, which house over 1,300 membranes, crucial to the desalination process. U.S. Water began the project in January 2024, and by December 2024, three of the RO units were fully operational and providing vital drinking water to the region. The final two RO units were completed in February 2025.
The newly rehabilitated stainless-steel frames, along with the new pressure vessels and rehabilitated equipment and instrumentation, will ensure the facility provides a reliable water source and meets current standards.
After receiving approval from the TBW Board of Directors in January 2024, U.S. Water quickly initiated the project. The fast-track project was completed ahead of schedule thanks to the careful planning and effort of the project team. “We understood the importance of minimizing any service disruptions, so our team worked hard to meet all deadlines,” said Christopher Saliba, Vice President of Operations and Maintenance at U.S. Water Services Corporation.
These improvements are designed to accommodate future growth and ensure the facility can continue to meet the needs of a growing population. As the region expands, this facility will remain a crucial asset in meeting the area’s water needs. This project highlights the importance of proactive infrastructure management and sets a precedent for future initiatives. For more information on U.S. Water’s infrastructure rehabilitation services, visit our website or contact us today.
