NE POLK COUNTY
Northeast Polk County - Wharton Smith
The Northeast Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility (NERWWTF) is undergoing a comprehensive expansion and modernization program led by Polk County Utilities in collaboration with engineering firm Wright-Pierce and project partners. The project was initiated in response to increasing wastewater demand, aging infrastructure, and evolving regulatory requirements that necessitated significant upgrades to maintain reliable and environmentally responsible treatment operations. Through this expansion, the facility’s treatment capacity will increase from approximately 6 million gallons per day (MGD) to 9 MGD, with the potential for further expansion in the future as population growth continues across Polk County.
As a subcontractor participating in the project team, EC Concrete contributes to the construction of the facility’s structural and civil components that support the expansion’s treatment infrastructure. The company’s work supports the placement of reinforced concrete structures required for major plant elements such as treatment basins, equipment foundations, and related structural systems.
The project consists of numerous infrastructure improvements designed to enhance treatment performance, operational efficiency, and system reliability. Key upgrades include the construction of new headworks with advanced screening and grit removal systems, the addition of three 5-stage Bardenpho oxidation ditches for improved biological nutrient removal, and the repurposing of the existing biological nutrient removal basin into a 3-million-gallon equalization tank. Additional components include upgrades to chlorine contact chambers, deep bed filtration systems, effluent pumping facilities, and reclaimed water infrastructure, all of which are intended to improve water quality while ensuring the facility can effectively manage higher treatment volumes.
Through this involvement, EC Concrete plays a role in delivering durable infrastructure essential to the facility’s long-term operation, helping Polk County expand wastewater treatment capacity, protect regional water resources, and provide reliable reclaimed water services to one of Florida’s fastest-growing areas.