Nearly $200 million in upgrades are currently taking place at Tampa’s Howard F. Curren Advanced Wastewater Plant, with an additional $80 million in improvements set to begin soon. The plant, which was built in the 1950s and covers 140 acres in the Port of Tampa Bay, serves more than 630,000 residents and businesses from Pasco County to MacDill Air Force Base.
The facility treats about 60 million gallons of wastewater each day and can handle up to 200 million gallons during periods of extreme weather. Wastewater travels through approximately 1,500 miles of pipes before reaching the plant for advanced treatment and eventual discharge into Hillsborough Bay.
Last week, the Tampa City Council approved an $80 million project aimed at upgrading the segment of the plant responsible for nitrogen removal. Removing nitrogen is a key step in protecting local waterways from algae growth and maintaining water quality for marine life.
Construction is also underway on another major project focused on treating solid organic matter, known as “sludge.” Two new anaerobic digesters are being built to replace equipment dating back to the original construction era. These improvements are scheduled for completion by early 2028.
Upgrades continue at the Main Pump Station as well, where all seven pumps — each capable of handling 50 million gallons per day — are being replaced along with other critical infrastructure enhancements. Resiliency features such as raising electrical equipment are included to help prevent service interruptions due to flooding. This work is expected to be finished by late 2026.
“We are in a critical point in Tampa’s history where the infrastructure that quite literally holds our city together is in need of widespread and massive renovation,” said Mayor Jane Castor. “Across Tampa we are investing hundreds of millions of dollars to upgrade the systems that allow us to live, work, and enjoy our life here in this beautiful city — from our utility systems, to our parks and roads, major investments are happening all around us.”
These efforts fall under the $3 billion PIPES (Progressive Infrastructure Planning to Ensure Sustainability) Program. Since its launch under Mayor Castor’s leadership with support from City Council in 2019, over $700 million has been invested into improving not only the wastewater plant but also dozens of pumping stations and roughly 200 miles of pipes throughout Tampa.
