real talk about TAMPA’S TRANSITION TO OZONE FILTRATION and what it could mean for deltona

Tampa’s transition to Ozone Filtration is not a test run; it is a permanent, central component of their primary disinfection process at the David L. Tippin Water Treatment Facility.

While ozone is a "game-changer" for water quality, it has not fully replaced chemicals. Instead, it has shifted the water's chemical profile, reducing some traditional chemicals while requiring others to maintain safety as water travels through miles of pipes.

Current Status of Ozone Filtration

· Fully Operational: Ozone is now the primary disinfectant used to destroy bacteria, viruses, and microbial pathogens.

· Enhanced Water Quality: The 2024 Water Quality Report notes that this advanced disinfection produces clearer water and significantly improves taste and odor by breaking down the organic molecules common in the Hillsborough River.

Why Chemicals Aren't Gone

Contrary to the idea of a "chemical-free" system, Tampa still uses a multi-stage chemical process to ensure the water remains safe until it reaches your tap:

· Secondary Disinfection: Ozone is highly effective but dissipates quickly. To keep water disinfected as it travels through 2,200 miles of water mains, Tampa adds chlorine and ammonia to create chloramines.

· Coagulation & Stabilization: The city still uses ferric sulfate, sulfuric acid, and polymers to clump debris together (flocculation) and lime/caustic soda to balance pH levels and prevent pipe corrosion.

The Next Big Phase: "SIX" Technology

As of March 25, 2026, Tampa has approved funding for a new Suspended Ion Exchange (SIX®) system. This is intended to work alongside the ozone system to reduce chemical dependency further:

· 79% Chemical Reduction: Pilot tests of the SIX® system (combined with ozone) showed it could reduce overall chemical usage by up to 79%.

· Targeting "Forever Chemicals": This upgrade is specifically designed to remove organic matter that interferes with the removal of PFAS (forever chemicals), positioning Tampa to meet strict new federal regulations.

Summary of Improvements

Feature: Ozone Filtration    Status  Fully Integrated   Impact Better taste/clarity; kills 99.9% of pathogens.

Feature: Chemical Use         Status: Reduced, not eliminated.     Impact: Shifted from primary disinfection to "residual" safety in pipes.                 

Feature:  SIX® Technology  Status: Design Phase (2026)      Impact: Projected to save $1.7M+ annually in chemical costs,

A Quiz for the people in Tampa: how has the water taste been for you lately—have you noticed a change in the "bleach" or "swampy" notes people used to complain about?

The upfront costs for a transition to Ozone and Suspended Ion Exchange (SIX®) are primarily driven by massive infrastructure and engineering requirements. Unlike traditional chemical plants that rely on bulk storage tanks, these technologies require specialized generation hardware and high-tech contactors.

The total capital expenditure(CapEx) for a large-scale municipal transition, such as the current benchmark in Tampa, is approximately $100 million to $200 million.

1. Major Capital Cost Components

The "sticker price" of these systems is broken down into four key areas:

· Technology Hardware ($40M – $70M+):

o Ozone Generators:Large-scale units that use high-voltage electricity to create ozone on-site.

o SIX® Resin Tanks: Specialized vessels that hold the ion-exchange resin.

o Oxygen Concentrators: Ozone systems require a pure oxygen feed to be efficient.

 · Civil Engineering & Construction ($30M – $80M):

o Stainless Steel Contactors: Ozone is highly corrosive; the tanks where it mixes with water must be made of high-grade stainless steel rather than standard concrete or plastic.

o Facility Footprint: In Tampa, the full-scale SIX® facility occupies about 1.5 acres of land at the treatment site.

· Advanced Control Systems ($10M – $20M):

o Automation is critical for these systems to adjust ozone dosage in real-time based on water flow and organic load.

· Design & Pilot Testing (10–15% of Total Project):

o Before a full-scale build, cities typically spend $1M – $5M on pilot plants (like Tampa’s 50,000 GPD pilot) to prove the technology works with their specific local water source.

2. Comparison of Upfront Costs per Gallon

While traditional chemical systems are cheaper to build, they are becoming less competitive as regulatory standards for "forever chemicals" (PFAS) tighten.

Scale of System                    Typical Cost Range (Total)                Cost per Gallon (Capacity) 

Small (< 0.1 MGD)                 $170,000 – $6 Million                           ~$10.00 – $15.00 

Medium (0.1 – 5 MGD)         $6 Million – $20 Million                        ~$7.00 – $10.00 

Large (> 100 MGD)                $100 Million – $200+ Million              $0.70 – $1.50 

3. Funding and "Bill Neutrality."

A major hurdle for municipalities is justifying the initial debt. For example, Tampa funded its $100M+ project through the PIPES (Progressive Infrastructure Planning to Ensure Sustainability) program.

· The Payback Logic: Because the system reduces chemical costs by 79% and saves roughly $1.7M – $1.9M annually in operations, the city can often finance the construction through bonds that are paid back by the operational savings, theoretically preventing a spike in resident water bills.

· Grants: Many cities are now applying for federal CDBG Grants or EPA disaster recovery funds specifically to cover the upfront costs of these upgrades for infrastructure resilience.

How does this translate into what we could expect Deltona to pay?

To resize the Tampa figures for a city the size of Deltona (approx. 100,000 residents), we must account for the specific volume and infrastructure needs of your utility system.

While Tampa processes over 60–80 million gallons per day (MGD), Deltona’s water utility typically operates at 10–15 MGD for its drinking water supply, split across multiple well sites.

1. Resized Upfront Capital Costs (CapEx)

Scaling a multi-million-gallon "SIX" and Ozone system down to Deltona's size doesn't reduce the price linearly because of "economies of scale." However, based on similar Florida infrastructure projects and Deltona's 2025–2026 Water Capital Budget, the estimates are as follows:

Category                                                 Estimated Deltona     Notes

                                                                  Cost (10–15 MGD)              

Ozone Generation & Contactors      $15M   – $25M            Based on stainless steel requirements for high-voltage

                                                                                                         ozone.

SIX® Ion Exchange System                $20M   – $35M            Scale-down of the Tampa   SIX project for lower flow rates.

Facility Integration & Civil                 $10M   – $20M            Retrofitting existing well sites or centralizing treatment.

Total Estimated Upfront                     $45M   – $80M           Roughly 1.5x the cost of a traditional treatment plant.

2. Operational Cost Savings (O&M)

If Deltona were to adopt this, the savings would be proportional to your current chemical spend.

· Chemical Reduction: You could expect to cut approximately 70% to 80% of your current spending on primary coagulants (like ferric sulfate) and chlorine used during the initial treatment stages.

· Annual Savings Estimate: Using the Tampa ratio ($1.7M savings for 80 MGD), a 15 MGD system in Deltona would likely see operational savings of $300,000 to $450,000 per year.

· Filter Longevity: Your sand or membrane filters would likely last 2x longer between backwashes, reducing labor costs and water loss.

3. Funding the Transition: The "Deltona Context."

Given the Resolution 2025-155 budget, which shows Deltona’s Water/Wastewater Capital Improvements fund at approximately $87 million, a project of this scale would consume a significant portion of the city's multi-year infrastructure plan.

· Grant Potential: As seen with the $44 million Fisher Plant expansion, Deltona is already utilizing FDEP grants to cover 50% of project costs. A similar 50/50 match for an Ozone/SIX system would bring the city's direct "out of pocket" cost down to $22M – $40M.

· Alternative Water Supply (AWS): These technologies often qualify for state funding under AWS initiatives because they make difficult-to-treat water sources viable, reducing the strain on the Upper Floridan Aquifer.

4. Strategic Comparison

Factor                                      Traditional Chemicals           Ozone / SIX ® 

Construction Cost               $25M – $35M                             $45M – $80M 

Monthly Chemical Bill        High (Variable)                           Low (Fixed) 

PFAS / Lead Removal          Limited                                        Highly Effective 

Taste/Odor Complaints     Common                                     Near Zero

POP QUIZ: Do you think the 15-year "payback period" on the chemical savings justifies the $50M+ initial debt for a city of Deltona's size?

Deltona’s plan to address its aging infrastructure involves a multi-pronged approach that balances a standing annual replacement program with aggressive pursuits of state and federal funding for larger-scale modernizations.

The core of the issue is that approximately 455 miles of water mains serve the city, much of which dates back to the 1960s and 1970s and have officially exceeded their useful lifespan.

1. The Standing "Watermain Replacement Project."

The city maintains a permanent Watermain Replacement Project to systematically replace old pipes with new potable water distribution mains.

· Budgeting: The city historically budgets approximately $1 million annually for this project.

· The Gap: Municipal leadership has explicitly acknowledged that $1 million per year is insufficient to keep pace with the rate of pipe failure and the scale of the 1960s-era infrastructure.

· Goal: The primary metric for success is a reduction in watermain breaks and a decrease in water quality complaints from residents.

2. Fiscal Year 2026 Funding Strategy

For the 2025–2026 Fiscal Year, Deltona has significantly increased its capital focus. According to Resolution 2025-134, the city has allocated:

· $45.5 Million to the Water/Wastewater Utility Fund.

· $88.9 Million to the Water/Wastewater Capital Improvement Fund (which includes rollover funds from previous years).

· State Legislative Requests: For the 2026–2027 cycle, the city filed a Local Funding Initiative Request to the Florida Senate (sponsored by Senator Wright) to secure additional state support specifically for watermain replacements to supplement the local budget.

3. Regional "Transform386" & Disaster Recovery

Deltona is leveraging regional infrastructure programs to harden its system against environmental stressors:

· CDBG-DR Funding: Through Volusia County's Transform386 program, Deltona has been allocated roughly $1.34 million for flood mitigation and infrastructure hardening (specifically around Elkcam Blvd and Lake Sweet Gum).

· Impact: While these funds are primarily for stormwater and flood mitigation, they are designed to protect the integrity of the underlying water and sewer lines that are often compromised during heavy rain events due to the porous nature of older pipes.

4. Expansion vs. Replacement

While replacing old pipes is a priority, the city is also focused on "Utility Extensions." Recent projects, such as the $3.55 million extension along State Road 415, involve installing thousands of feet of new potable water and reclaimed water mains. These newer installations serve as a more resilient backbone for the city, enabling better rerouting when the older 1960s segments fail.

Summary of Challenges

The Scale Problem: With over 400 miles of pipe and a $1M base annual replacement budget, the city has noted that the target population for immediate pipe relief is roughly 2,500 customers at a time. The current strategy relies heavily on successfully winning "Alternative State Funding" to accelerate this timeline.