Sarasota County launches major expansion of Bee Ridge wastewater facility

At a facility in eastern Sarasota County, wastewater swirls around in 180-foot-long tanks perched on top of a plain, white building.

Desirable bacteria consume the waste and organic materials, cleaning the water.

This is one of the first steps in the wastewater treatment process at Sarasota County’s Bee Ridge Water Reclamation Facility – a plant that’s about to undergo a major expansion.

The facility, which produces reclaimed water for northern unincorporated Sarasota County, is going to be converted into an advanced wastewater treatment facility. This will make it more effective at removing harmful nutrients – including nitrogen and phosphorus – from wastewater.

County officials broke ground in late March.

“The project is for everyone in our community and for future generations,” Commissioner Maio told those gathered for the groundbreaking.

The enhancements to the Bee Ridge facility are expected to cost $210 million, about half of which will be paid for by a low-interest loan that the federal Environmental Protection Agency has awarded the county.