In Sarasota County, Florida, the red tides of 2017 and 2018 underscored the urgent need to reduce nutrient loading to protect water quality, public health, and the local economy. At the same time, the region’s vulnerability to hurricanes has made resilience a top priority for essential infrastructure.
A recent article in the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Civil Engineering Source highlights how Sarasota County is addressing these challenges through the expansion and conversion of the Bee Ridge Water Reclamation Facility (BRWRF). Designed by Carollo Engineers and delivered with Garney Construction, the project represents one of the most ambitious upgrades of its kind in the state.
Expanding Capacity and Achieving Advanced Wastewater Treatment
When complete in 2025, the BRWRF expansion will boost treatment capacity by 50%, increasing from 12 to 18 million gallons per day. At its core it will be Florida’s largest membrane bioreactor, supported by biological nutrient removal basins and other advanced processes. These improvements will allow the facility to meet Florida’s Advanced Wastewater Treatment (AWT) standards, significantly reducing nitrogen and phosphorus discharges.
The project also sets a new standard for reuse. “At buildout, the project will not have any surface discharge; 100% of treated effluent will be reused,” explained Brooke Bailey, Sarasota County’s director of public utilities. In addition to irrigation, excess flows will be stored in salinity barrier wells, conserving potable supplies and creating flexibility for future reuse opportunities, such as indirect potable reuse or aquifer recharge.
Bee Ridge Upgrades: A Community-Driven Investment
As Sarasota’s assistant utility director, Gregory Rouse, noted in the article, the harmful algae blooms of 2017 and 2018 became a turning point: “The community came together and decided to do something about it.” That momentum led to a countywide water quality summit in 2019, which laid the groundwork for expanding Bee Ridge and converting it to AWT. The decision reflects both community demand and regulatory foresight, positioning Sarasota to safeguard its waterways for generations to come.
Building Climate Resilience into Water Infrastructure
The project also incorporates robust climate resilience strategies. Designed to withstand Category 5 hurricane loads, the upgraded facility includes hurricane-resistant construction, expanded stormwater basins, elevated structures, and redundant power systems. These measures were tested during Hurricane Debby in 2024, which dropped nearly 17 inches of rain in a single day. Despite the flooding, Bee Ridge remained operational. As Carollo’s Jody Barksdale put it, “Being resilient doesn’t mean you’re not affected; it means you bounce back much quicker.”
Bee Ridge Wins Envision Gold for Sustainability
Earlier this year, the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure awarded Bee Ridge an Envision Gold rating, making it the first water reclamation facility in Florida to achieve this recognition. The award highlights the project’s contributions to environmental stewardship, climate preparedness, and community value. “The transformation at Bee Ridge represents more than just a technology upgrade,” Rouse said. “It demonstrates a long-term investment in the environmental health and operational resilience of our community.”
To learn more about Sarasota County’s Bee Ridge WRF expansion, read the full article.
