Florida Construction News staff writer
New Smyrna Beach Utilities joined city officials and project partners Friday to break ground on the Glencoe Water Treatment Plant Pellet Softening Expansion, the largest application of the technology in Florida.
The expansion, led by PC Construction and Stantec, includes an 8,500-square-foot pellet softening facility, administrative spaces, updated electrical systems and improved site utilities. Completion is expected by late 2027.
Upgrades will replace aging 1970s-era lime softening reactor clarifiers with a modern pellet softening system, improving reliability, reducing operating costs and preserving natural resources. NSBU said the project is expected to extend the life of the plant by at least 30 years and delay the need for a costly reverse osmosis facility.
The expansion offers multiple benefits: it uses 45% fewer chemicals and 50% less energy than the current system, eliminates lime sludge disposal, reduces byproduct waste by 80%, and boosts plant capacity to 8.7 million gallons per day, with room for future expansion to 11.6 million gallons.
“New Smyrna Beach Utilities is excited to bring this industry-leading water softening project to our water treatment plant,” said Efren Chavez, NSBU general manager and CEO. “It will provide a sustainable, high-quality water source for our customers while saving money over the long term.”
John Yesalonia, construction executive at PC Construction, said the project demonstrates how modernizing aging infrastructure can help growing communities remain sustainable.
