Modernization works strengthen efficiency and reliability of Florida’s largest desalination facility.

Tampa Bay Desalination Plant has achieved its highest production levels in more than a decade following the completion of a comprehensive modernization led by ACCIONA. The upgrades have restored the facility’s full operating capacity and enhanced its contribution to the region’s long-term water security.

In 2023, Tampa Bay Water reaffirmed its confidence in ACCIONA’s management by extending the plant’s operation and maintenance contract by five years, from 2024 until 2029. The milestone served as the catalyst for an ambitious redevelopment program focused on reliability, efficiency, and performance.

The modernization works, carried out in 2024, included dismantling all eight reverse osmosis racks and rebuilding five of them in stainless steel, extending their lifespan by more than 25 years, and improving long-term corrosion resistance. ACCIONA also replaced 840 pressure vessels, upgraded sections of the piping network, and introduced advanced digital control systems to optimize operations and maintenance.

These improvements have modernized a critical infrastructure and ensured the plant’s operational reliability for decades to come, supporting continuous service and the production of drinking water for the Tampa Bay community.

As a result, in the first nine months following completion, the plant operated at its highest capacity in more than a decade.

Key projects
ACCIONA has a growing presence in the U.S. infrastructure sector, delivering innovative, technology-driven solutions across a range of major projects.

In Louisiana, ACCIONA is leading the design and construction of the Calcasieu River Bridge, a critical infrastructure upgrade that will enhance connectivity and safety along Interstate 10. The project incorporates advanced engineering solutions to improve traffic flow and resilience, ensuring long-term durability for one of the region’s key transport corridors.

In Georgia, ACCIONA is developing the SR 400 Express Lanes Project, a major expansion designed to reduce congestion and improve mobility across the greater Atlanta area.

Beyond transport infrastructure, ACCIONA is also advancing innovation in water treatment and supply. Aside from the Tampa Bay plant, in California the company will design, build and operate and maintain the Doheny Ocean Desalination Plant in Orange County — a state-of-the-art facility that will strengthen local water supply resilience and provide a reliable source of drinking water for the region.