Tampa Water Department Advances Cutting Edge Technology News City Council, News General, News Water Department Tampa Water Department Advances Groundbreaking TechnologyThe[...]

The Tampa Water Department is taking a major step forward in its efforts to enhance drinking water quality, as new testing confirms the effectiveness of its innovative Suspended Ion Exchange (SIX) treatment technology in reducing PFAS, commonly known as "forever chemicals."

Recent testing conducted by an independent consultant evaluated SIX's ability to remove PFAS from raw water at the David L. Tippin Water Treatment Facility. Results showed that the SIX system removed approximately 30% of PFAS compounds found in our water source.

While this technology was initially chosen to help remove naturally occurring organic matter, testing confirmed its ability to remove PFAS as well. By removing both organic matter and PFAS early in the treatment process, SIX delivers multiple water quality benefits through a single treatment technology. SIX will not only allow other treatment processes work more effectively, but it will also position the Tampa Water Department to meet future drinking water regulations.

In addition to improving water quality, SIX is expected to lower both future construction and operating costs. By helping the rest of the treatment system work more efficiently, SIX reduces the scale of treatment improvements needed at the plant. Studies conducted during project planning found that using SIX could save more than $80 million in future facility improvement costs compared to other treatment options.

The technology will also significantly reduce ongoing treatment costs. During a 10-month pilot program, SIX demonstrated the ability to eliminate the need for some treatment chemicals while substantially reducing the use of others, resulting in projected annual savings of approximately $2 million.

The latest test results come as the Tampa City Council has approved moving forward with the design phase of the SIX facility.

The Tampa Water Department is partnering with the Tippin Water Team (Carollo Engineers, Garney Construction, Wharton Smith, Inc., and PWNT Technologies) to design and construct the new facility, with completion expected in 2032.

Once operational, the SIX facility will be the first of its kind in North America and the largest SIX installation in the world, positioning Tampa as a global leader in advanced water treatment innovation.

Video Explainer of SIX Technology

BROLL of SIX Pilot