Fort Lauderdale Opens New $666 Million Water Facility

The Prospect Lake Clean Water Center replaces the aging Fiveash Regional Water Treatment Plant.

Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Utilities

Fort Lauderdale Opens New $666 Million Water Facility

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Fort Lauderdale officially opened the $666 million Prospect Lake Clean Water Center to modernize the city's water infrastructure. The facility is engineered to provide 50 million gallons of treated water daily while withstanding Category 5 hurricane-force winds.

Why it matters

The new plant replaces the 1953-built Fiveash Regional Water Treatment Plant, which lacked modern hurricane-resistance standards and struggled to address evolving water quality requirements. This transition aims to improve system reliability and flexibility for local residents.

The facility produces 50 million gallons of treated water per day and is hardened against Category 5 hurricane winds. The total infrastructure investment reached $666 million to deliver this increased capacity.

The players

Kiewit Water Facilities Florida

This engineering firm was selected in 2023 to lead the design and construction of the new water treatment facility.

City of Fort Lauderdale

The municipal government managed the transition from the legacy Fiveash plant to the new clean water center.

IDE Technologies

This company is a partner in the public-private delivery model used for the new water facility.

Ridgewood Infrastructure

This organization collaborated as part of the public-private partnership to deliver the new municipal water infrastructure.

The details

The project operates through a public-private partnership involving the City of Fort Lauderdale, IDE Technologies, Ridgewood Infrastructure, and Kiewit Water Facilities Florida. The city began shifting water distribution from the legacy site to the new plant in September 2026 to bring the system fully online.

1953: The Fiveash Regional Water Treatment Plant was built.
2023: Kiewit was selected to design and build the facility.
September 2026: The city began transferring water into the distribution system.
October 15, 2026: The Prospect Lake Clean Water Center opened.

Market Landscape

This project reflects a broader trend of municipalities utilizing public-private partnerships to overhaul aging, non-compliant utility infrastructure. It positions the city to meet modern regulatory standards while mitigating the risks posed by extreme weather events.

Residents will see a gradual transition as water distribution shifts from the legacy Fiveash plant to the new facility. The project ensures higher reliability for local households and better preparation against storm-related service disruptions.

The takeaway

The move to the Prospect Lake facility highlights the necessity of replacing mid-century infrastructure to keep pace with modern safety and quality standards. Residents should expect improved water reliability as the city completes the migration to the new plant.