Bay County, Florida Selects Barge for Water Treatment Plant Expansion

The Bay County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) has chosen Barge as the consultant for the Transmitter Road Water Treatment Plant (WTP) filter expansion and resiliency project in Panama City, Florida. Our team will optimize the current conventional mixed media filtration system to meet the needs of the growing population and upcoming developments.

With Florida's population growing and ongoing construction in the area, Bay County Utility Services (BCUS) staff leadership recognized the need to explore alternative water sources and enhance production at their facility, one of Florida's largest surface water plants rated at 60 million gallons per day (MGD).

The proposed improvements to the existing facility aim to enhance the reliability of the effluent filtration system in the short term. This will allow enough time for the financing, designing, and constructing of a future and brand-new treatment facility in another location near the high-growth area in Bay County, around the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport and the Latitudes-Margaritaville Watersound, which is a retirement community in the West Bay growth sector.

To address the expansion, the Barge project team plans to add three additional multimedia gravity filters at the Transmitter Road WTP. This expansion will help provide a reliable potable water supply, extend the facility's lifespan, and provide redundancy for maintenance downtime, which is crucial during peak water demand, especially during tourist seasons.

"The trust the Bay County Board of County Commissioners has given us to provide professional engineering services for this important project is humbling and deeply gratifying,” says Kevin Kennoy, vice president and client service leader. “It holds immense importance, serving as a cornerstone for the long-term public health and quality of life for Bay County, Panama City, and Panama City Beach residents."

Barge's collaboration with BCUS dates back to 2018, aiding in relief efforts due to the aftermath of Hurricane Michael. Since then, the firm has supported recovery efforts and provided engineering expertise across various county departments. Scheduled for completion by 2026, the Transmitter Road Water Treatment Plant expansion underscores Barge's continued commitment to providing a sustainable water supply for Bay County's future.

Pictured above: Aerial View of Proposed Expanded Filter Basins, Transmitter Road Water Treatment Plant, Panama City, Florida.