The City of Bartow’s Water Reclamation Facility is a 4.0 million gallon per day sequencing batch reactor (SBR) facility operating in a mode comparable to extended aeration. The biological process is designed to remove solids and BOD to concentrations of less then 10mg/l from the plant’s effluent. The effluent is then pumped approximately nine miles south of the City of Bartow WRF site to a holding pond at Hines Energy Complex owned by Progress Energy. Progress Energy then uses this discharge effluent, instead of water from the Florida aquifer, in their cooling towers to provide electricity for the citizens of Florida.

State Licensing

All City of Bartow Water Reclamation Facility Operators are state licensed and licenses are updated every 2 years with Continuing Education units (CEUs).

Plant Contacts

• Tony McKenley, Water & Wastewater Facilities Director: (863) 534-0147
• Wiley Pratt, Lead Operator: (863) 534-0146

After Hours Utilities Emergency

The telephone numbers are (863) 534-5034 or (863) 534-0134. These numbers will ring into the Bartow Police Department Utilities dispatch.