Last Monday night, our Commission took a vote that has been years in the making—and I left the meeting genuinely encouraged about where Winter Springs is headed.
By unanimous vote, the Commission approved the Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) for the East Water Reclamation Facility expansion project: $65,847,589, with construction anticipated to begin in early June 2026 and reach final completion in November 2028. This is the last major Commission vote required on the East facility. From here, the work begins in the ground.
What Is a GMP, and Why Does It Matter?
A Guaranteed Maximum Price is exactly what it sounds like: a firm ceiling on what the project will cost the city. It’s not an estimate—it’s a contractual commitment from our construction manager at risk, Wharton-Smith, backed by competitive bids from 85 subcontractors and suppliers across 37 individual bid packages.
That level of transparency is one of the things I appreciate most about this process. Rather than a single lump-sum number, the Commission and residents can see the exact breakdown of every component of the project. The contingency built into the GMP—$5.5 million—is carefully documented against a risk register, and any release of those funds requires explicit approval from city staff. This is not a blank check; it’s a structured, accountable process.
Perhaps most encouraging: when the competitive bids came back, they came in below the January 2026 internal estimate of $72.8 million. The market responded. Contractors wanted this project.
How We Got Here
This project did not happen overnight. Carollo Engineers, our design firm, has been working through the funding, permitting, and design process for years—navigating the Clean Water State Revolving Fund application process, securing FDEP permits, and collaborating closely with Wharton-Smith to value-engineer costs at every stage. The design for the East facility is now complete. FDEP permitting is in hand. And critically, construction funding is fully secured.
That funding package is worth highlighting in detail, because it reflects both strong planning and some fortunate timing. The city secured:
- $54,179,318 through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF)—low-interest financing specifically designed for public water infrastructure
- $19,166,503 through a Supplemental Appropriation for Hurricanes Helene and Milton—with 50% principal forgiveness, meaning roughly $9.6 million of that loan does not need to be repaid
- $600,000 through the Protecting Florida Together grant program—a straight grant, no repayment required
All told, the city secured over $73 million in construction and design financing—more than enough to cover the $65.8 million GMP and associated project costs. That’s smart, patient financial stewardship on behalf of Winter Springs residents.
What This Means for Our Community
I want to be direct about something that came up at the meeting: the rate increases that helped make this project financially viable were real, and I know they were felt. They were not comfortable decisions. But they were the right ones. Our wastewater treatment infrastructure was overdue for replacement by a decade. Deferring that investment further would have meant higher costs, greater risk to our environment, and eventually a crisis rather than a plan.
The new East Water Reclamation Facility will be more efficient to operate than the existing plant. It will meet current and future environmental standards. And it positions the city to move forward on the West facility as well—with design already contracted and construction funding to be sought through CWSRF in 2027.
One resident who addressed the Commission at the end of the evening captured the moment well: “We finally come to the point where our wastewater treatment is being addressed. We’re almost to the stage of construction. What a great, great thing.” That enthusiasm is well-earned, and it belongs to everyone—residents, city staff, engineers, and the Commission members who have kept this project moving through staff transitions, funding applications, and years of detailed work.
What Comes Next
Following Commission approval, Wharton-Smith will begin issuing purchase orders and subcontracts to the project’s bidding partners. Procurement of long-lead materials and equipment is already scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2026, with mobilization on-site expected in early June. The city will also pursue an Owner Direct Purchase program to eliminate sales tax on major equipment purchases—a straightforward way to stretch every dollar further.
Value engineering will continue throughout construction. The risk register will be reviewed regularly. And the contingency will be managed with the same discipline that brought us to this point.
Construction is expected to run through November 2028. That’s a 2.5-year project. It will be visible, at times disruptive, and the kind of infrastructure work that tends not to make headlines once the shovels are moving. But it is exactly the kind of foundational investment our community needs to remain healthy, financially sound, and environmentally responsible.
I’m proud of what this Commission, city staff, and our project teams accomplished to reach this milestone. And I’m looking forward to the day we celebrate a completed facility—cleaner water, a more resilient city, and a promise kept to the residents of Winter Springs.
Victoria Bruce
Winter Springs Commissioner – District 2
Protecting Winter Springs
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