Dunedin Water Plant Severely Damaged By Fire Following $32M In Renovations

DUNEDIN, FL — The city of Dunedin is continuing to assess short-term and long-term restoration of the city's Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment Plant, which caught fire Sept. 30.

Paul Stanek, director of public works and utilities for the city, said the fire broke out just after 4 a.m. at the water plant on County Road 1 and St. Christopher Drive. Fire and emergency responders from the cities of Dunedin, Clearwater, Palm Harbor and Safety Harbor responded to the scene, containing the fire inside the water plant at 4:24 a.m.

Although the cause of the fire is still under investigation, Stanek said the equipment was undergoing cleaning at the time and believes the fire started in one of the tanks used in the cleaning process.

He said the severe heat from the fire damaged the city's reverse osmosis equipment and caused smoke damage to the offices.

Currently, the city has enough water for the city's drinking water needs but is asking residents and businesses to conserve water, including reclaimed water, by not water their lawns or wash cars.

The reverse osmosis system removes the hardness and salts from the city's drinking water. Without the reverse osmosis system, Stanek said the water may be harder and taste a bit different but assured residents it meet all Environment Protection Agency standards for safe for drinking.

"We still maintain it's safer than bottled water," he said.

He said the utilities department hopes to get the reverse osmosis system back up and running within two months but said it could take six months to a year to make necessary permanent repairs.

Stanek said he's also looking at ways to augment the reclaimed water system, so residents can resume watering their lawns.

Risk management director Theresa Smalling said there is no estimate on the cost of repairs yet but said the city is fully insured.

The fire came just as the city completed a four-year, $32 million upgrade to its reverse osmosis water plant.

"Most of the equipment was new," Stanek said. "It's a punch in the gut. We were just finishing up 99 percent completion when this happened, so it was very difficult for all of us."