Infrastructure

Leading the Way on Infrastructure Improvements

• Completed the installation of a new main sewer pipe through the central part of the city — under budget and in record time through the unique use of two contractors working from separate ends of the project.
  
  
  
  
• Broke ground on a new water treatment plant to meet city needs for clean, clear water well into the future.
  
  
  
  
• Since becoming mayor in 2018, the city has constructed more than 19 miles of water pipe, 17 miles of sewer pipe, and 15 miles of stormwater pipe.
• Launched Fortify Lauderdale, committing up to $500 million to stormwater and flood prevention systems across 17 neighborhoods. This built upon an earlier initiative that earmarked $200 million to prevent flooding in the seven most vulnerable neighborhoods.
• Opened the River Oaks stormwater preserve to prevent flooding in southern Fort Lauderdale.
• Bringing to completion on stormwater projects in Edgewood and River Oaks.
• Fast-tracked drainage projects in Melrose Manors and Riverland.
• Built new seawalls on the Isles and in Rio Vista.
• Installed hundreds of tidal-control valves, added drainage pipes, built new outfall connections, created new catch basins and rebuilt swales.
  
  
  
  
• Took steps to better prevent infiltration of stormwater into the sewer system.
• Launching a project to replace old water meters with digital ones that will provide greater reliability in consumption readings.
• Built a new pump station downtown that adds 1 million gallons of additional daily sewage capacity to the area.
• Upgraded our deep injection wells that are a critical piece of our sewer process.
• Established new standards for seawalls to better protect homeowners from the impact of sea-level rise.
• Incorporated sea-level rise predictions into the city's infrastructure master plan.
• Constructed a critical new processing system at the George T. Lohmeyer Wastewater Treatment Plant.
• Mapped thousands of water distribution valves so public works crews know where to go to test and maintain these critical links in the infrastructure.
• Undertook computerized modeling of the entire water system to identify improvements needed as a result of low pressure and inadequate flows in mains.
• Installed dozens of auto-flushing devices to remove sediment deposits and biofilm from pipes.
  
  
  
  
• Purchased capacity for the city in a regional reservoir planned for western Palm Beach County in order to ensure continued access to water supply to supplement the wells that tap into underground reservoirs.
• Fought to allow neighborhoods that could afford to do so to have their electrical lines buried underground as a way to protect their power grid from damage during future hurricanes.
• Worked with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to renourish parts of our beach in response to the erosion caused by Hurricane Irma.
  
  
  
  
• Signed a pledge at the Global Harbor Cities conference to promote a sustainable environment, build livable communities, do more to create innovative economies and become more globally integrated.
• Joined Climate Mayors, a bipartisan network of mayors from around the country urging meaningful action to climate change.