City of St. Petersburg wastewater facility flood protection

Wastewater Reclamation Facility

City of St. Petersburg, FL

The Challenge

In St. Petersburg, Florida, heavy storms and storm surge repeatedly caused flooding issues at the Northeast Wastewater Reclamation Facility. Floodwater intrusion threatened critical treatment operations, increased maintenance demands, and put essential infrastructure at risk during severe weather events.

As storm intensity and frequency increased, the City of St. Petersburg needed a practical solution to protect its wastewater facilities without the cost, disruption, or complexity of elevating entire buildings.

The Recommendations

Flood Risk America worked with the City to install flood panels at the Northeast Wastewater Reclamation Facility and Lift Station 85 as part of a broader resilience initiative.

The panels were designed to seal vulnerable openings, creating a strong barrier that prevents storm surge and floodwaters from entering the building. Compared to structural elevation, the flood panels offered a faster, more cost-effective solution while still delivering reliable protection.

This approach is being standardized across the city, with every sewer treatment plant building requiring this level of protection equipped with flood panels, including Lift Station 85, which already has panels in place.

The Result

With the flood panels installed, the Northeast Wastewater Reclamation Facility and Lift Station 85 are better protected against flooding during heavy storms. The city has strengthened its ability to safeguard critical wastewater infrastructure, reduce flood-related disruptions, and maintain essential services when severe weather hits.

By investing in targeted resiliency projects like this, St. Petersburg continues to prepare for future storm events, protecting public infrastructure and the communities that depend on it.