The Military Point Regional Advanced Water Treatment Facility (AWT) provides an essential water resource for Bay County and several surrounding communities in Florida. As the region continues to grow and weather events become more severe, the County initiated a critical project to replace and modernize key electrical infrastructure originally installed in the late 1990s. These upgrades also support the facility’s planned expansion from 7 million gallons per day (MGD) to 14 MGD, positioning the system to meet rising regional demands.
The HR Green team delivered engineering, design, bidding, and construction-phase support, working closely with Bay County Utilities and regional partners to strengthen the long-term performance of this pivotal facility.
Challenge
The facility’s original electrical switchgear had reached the end of its service life and lacked the capacity and reliability needed for future demand. The legacy equipment managed power feeds from two utility sources and a backup generator, but it could not adequately support larger motor loads, newer equipment, or modernized power distribution requirements.
Recent hurricane impacts revealed additional vulnerabilities throughout the region’s infrastructure, further emphasizing the need for a more dependable and storm-ready electrical system. The project required careful planning to protect operations, maintain continuous service, and coordinate the integration of new electrical components with existing systems.
Solution
The project team began with a detailed assessment of existing and future motor loads, along with a full evaluation of electrical distribution pathways to determine the modifications needed for upgraded switchgear and a new generator. This analysis guided design decisions that would support both near-term expansion activities and long-term system performance.
The team developed 100% construction plans, technical specifications, engineer’s opinion of probable cost, and comprehensive bidding and contract documents. During procurement, they supported Bay County Utilities with bidding assistance and contractor coordination, helping the County obtain competitive pricing and a clear project scope.
During construction, the team provided continuous engineering support, including on-site observation during critical phases such as the 24-hour switchgear cutover. Close collaboration with the contractor allowed the team to identify potential issues early, coordinate planned outages, and maintain safe, efficient installation sequencing.
Benefit
The modernized electrical switchgear and supporting infrastructure improvements significantly strengthened the reliability and storm-readiness of the Military Point Regional AWT Facility. The upgraded system provides stable, redundant power distribution that supports the facility’s ongoing expansion to 14 MGD and better equips the plant to withstand extreme weather events common to coastal Florida.
Bay County Utilities now has a more adaptable and robust electrical system that aligns with future operational needs, reduces the risk of unplanned outages, and supports uninterrupted water treatment services for thousands of residents.
