Fort Lauderdale to Open $666 Million Water Facility

The new plant will impact water quality and service reliability for businesses across eight local municipalities.

Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Openings & Closings

Fort Lauderdale to Open $666 Million Water Facility

Live Poll

Is investing millions in new public utility infrastructure worth the cost to your community?

Fort Lauderdale will hold a grand opening for the $666 million Prospect Lake Clean Water Center on October 15, 2026. This infrastructure investment replaces the aging Fiveash water plant and serves several surrounding cities.

Why it matters

The project addresses critical capacity needs for a growing population while improving long-term water quality standards for commercial and residential users. The upgrade also provides enhanced infrastructure resilience, as the facility is built to withstand a Category 5 hurricane.

The new facility cost $666 million to construct and is designed to produce 50 million gallons of water daily. It will support a broad service area encompassing Fort Lauderdale, Wilton Manors, Oakland Park, Tamarac, Davie, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Sea Ranch Lakes, and Port Everglades.

The players

IDE Technologies

A water treatment and desalination company that served as a private partner in the facility's design and operation.

Ridgewood Infrastructure

An investment firm focused on essential infrastructure that partnered with the city on the facility development.

Kiewit Water Facilities Florida Co.

A major construction and engineering firm specializing in large-scale water and wastewater infrastructure projects.

The details

The city used a public-private partnership with IDE Technologies, Ridgewood Infrastructure, and Kiewit Water Facilities Florida Co. to design and build the center. The plant utilizes advanced nanofiltration and ion exchange technology to improve drinking water quality. Businesses in the region should note that the system is replacing the 1950s-era Fiveash plant, which will eventually transition into a storage and distribution center.

1950s: The Fiveash water plant began operations.
September 2026: The new plant began phased operations.
October 15, 2026, 10 a.m.: Grand opening ribbon-cutting ceremony held.
End of 2026: Expected end of temporary water taste and color changes.

Market Landscape

This project follows the industry-wide trend of replacing mid-century utility infrastructure with resilient, high-capacity systems. It aligns with broader national efforts to modernize municipal water frameworks to meet contemporary capacity and safety standards.

Operators in the affected service area should monitor their water supply for temporary taste or color shifts through the end of 2026. Businesses reliant on high-purity water should verify internal filtration systems are calibrated for the new water chemistry provided by the facility.

The takeaway

Large-scale infrastructure transitions often create temporary fluctuations in utility output that can impact sensitive business processes. Confirm if your facility requires additional onsite filtration to manage potential water chemistry changes during the final transition period ending in late 2026.