Two Critical Steps In Desalination Plant Acceptance Completed

APOLLO BEACH, FLA. – American Water-Pridesa, the contractor hired to fix and operate the Tampa Bay Seawater Desalination Plant, has completed two critical steps toward the mechanical completion and contractual acceptance of the plant:

• A 16-day run-in period at 25 million gallons per day (mgd) was completed on Oct. 18.  During October, the plant produced more than 700 million gallons of water for the regional supply.
• A required 14-day test of the facility was completed on Nov. 7.  During the test, the plant met its quantity requirements, producing its rated capacity of 25 million gallons per day (mgd) for seven days and its maximum capacity of 28.75 mgd for seven days.

The 14-day acceptance test is designed to measure plant performance in a number of areas including commercial power reliability, influent water quality, quality of pretreated water, chemical usage, cartridge filter usage, energy usage, membrane operations, finished water quality and more.

Generally, it will take about two months before all the data from the test is compiled and analyzed to make a complete assessment of the plant.  American Water-Pridesa will compile and submit test data in a report to Tampa Bay Water within 20 days of the test completion.  Within 30 days of receiving the report, Tampa Bay Water, with input from its experts, will review and analyze the test results before issuing an opinion on the acceptance test.

Tampa Bay Water provides wholesale water to the public utility systems of Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties as well as the cities of New Port Richey, St. Petersburg and Tampa.