Tampa Bay Water: Regular Board of Directors Meeting - 10.19.26

Tampa Bay Water Regular Board of Directors meeting, October 19, 2026. The board unanimously approved a revised purchasing policy that raises delegated executive purchasing thresholds and adds core technology infrastructure, systems, and services to the categories of operational expenditures the general manager may authorize, subject to budget oversight and monthly check-register review. It also approved a Pasco County point-of-connection request to begin planning and negotiations, a South Hillsborough Pipeline purchase-and-sale agreement of approximately $525,000, and Work Assignment No. 36 with Black & Veatch for the five-year water master plan update at $1,853,941. A Veolia amendment for the interim PFAS treatment pilot was approved 5–1 for $1,980,000, including $735,000 in owner’s allowance; the board discussed uncertainty around the EPA compliance deadline and related litigation.

The board also approved water-capacity acquisition agreements with Demare Ruskin LLC for $357,007 plus up to $50,000 in verified transaction costs, and Tampa Electric Company for $349,043 plus up to $50,000 in transaction costs, as well as a related Balm Farm permit modification. Five environmental monitoring and assessment contracts for well fields were approved; the transcript does not identify the firms or contract amounts. Staff reported that the $167 million surface water treatment plant expansion and $461.2 million South Hillsborough pipeline remain underway, with construction reported at 15% and 13% complete, respectively. The general manager also noted that 2027 water-conservation and source-protection grants of $2,000–$10,000 are accepting applications, with award recommendations expected in January; no grant awards were made at this meeting.