By Ashley Karen
A global leader in sustainable design and engineering, Stantec, with longtime client Tampa Bay Water, has started the last design phase of Segment B for the South Hillsborough Pipeline.
Tampa Bay Water granted the company a contract amendment to contain final design engineering and construction management at-risk support services (CMAR), bringing Stantec’s total fees to US$14 million. Segment B has a construction cost of about US$100 million and will assist with meeting the growing demand for potable water in Hillsborough County’s South-Central service area.
Stantec conducted a route study during the primary phase of the project to specify the most feasible path for the pipeline and prepared initial designs. The company will provide CMAR and construction support services throughout construction after final design completion.
According to the U.S. Census data, phenomenal population growth is pushing this project as Hillsborough County, the fourth largest county in Florida, came across a 24 percent growth rate since 2010 and a 1.5 percent growth in 2023.
The Tampa Bay Economic Development Council evaluates the county will increase by an additional about 8% by 2026. To meet the rapid increase in water service demands of new residents, the South Hillsborough Pipeline project will provide potable water to a new connection point with Hillsborough County and supply water to the growing area.
The South Hillsborough Pipeline will link Tampa Bay Water’s Regional Surface Water Treatment Plant to a new point of connection in South Hillsborough County, boosting the conveyance to the area.
The Stantec-designed Segment B will account for eight out of a total of 26 miles of pipeline with a design life of over 50 years. Segment B will link to Segment A close to Fish Hawk Boulevard and terminate at the County’s new connection point.
The up to 72-in. diameter pipes will pass through rural and urban corridors, crossing a river, railroad, state and county freeways, and road intersections. Stantec is preparing special tunneling sections as part of the project to mitigate effects on the local and rural environment and the public.
Jarah Parke, senior project manager at Stantec, declared: “These expanded pipelines will transmit the water needed to serve this growing community. Our team has collaborated with Tampa Bay Water and Hillsborough County to minimize area disruptions while maximizing system improvement benefits.”
He continued: “Stantec and Tampa Bay Water are united in our mutual goal of enhanced water delivery and building a lasting, effective system for years to come.”
Stantec has a long history of delivering engineering services for Hillsborough County and Tampa Bay Water. In 2009, the company operated as the engineer of record for the Tampa Bay Water System Configuration 2 Pumping Station Expansions Project, which incorporated the expansion of four principal pumping facilities in the Tampa Bay Water Enhanced Surface Water System.
In addition, presently, Stantec engineers and ecologists support Hillsborough County on the Northwest Regional Water Reclamation Facility Expansion Wetland Mitigation. The team was assigned to support the environmental planning, assessment, permitting for the project, and implementing a wetland mitigation program.
