# Columbia Advances Water Infrastructure Projects

Columbia, South Carolina is actively progressing on major water infrastructure projects to address resiliency and community development following significant flooding damage in 2015. The city is soliciting bids for a **$12 million** repair contract focused on restoring 12 damaged canal headgates and advancing a **$63.8 million** water intake upgrade designed to increase supply capacity to 80 million gallons per day. Concurrently, Columbia is planning a large-scale riverfront district aimed at enhancing public access and stimulating economic growth along the riverfront corridor.

- These contracts represent substantial investment opportunities for contractors specializing in water infrastructure repair and supply system upgrades.
- Procurement professionals should note the city's emphasis on community engagement and stakeholder input, which may influence project requirements and design considerations.
- The scale and scope of these projects indicate a multi-year commitment to water resiliency and urban development, suggesting ongoing contracting needs in related engineering, construction, and landscape architecture services.
- Vendors with expertise in water intake systems, flood mitigation infrastructure, and urban riverfront development may find strategic opportunities in Columbia's evolving procurement landscape.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Construction & Infrastructure
**Topics:** Physical Infrastructure
**Published:** September 24, 2026

### Government Entities
- City of Columbia
- Richland County
- University of South Carolina

### Vendors
- Field Operations (landscape architecture firm)
- Guignard Associates (land real estate manager/donor)

### Key Quotes
> We've really been intentional about doing online surveys, having stakeholder meetings and trying to get public input so that we're really satisfying our community's needs.
> — Clint Shealy, Assistant City Manager, Columbia Water

### Sources
- [How a water infrastructure crisis became a riverfront opportunity in Columbia, South Carolina](https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/water-infrastructure-crisis-became-riverfront-145040778.html) - yahoo.com