NORTH PORT – The City of North Port cut the ribbon Thursday on a brand-new water treatment plant in Wellen Park to help circulate drinking water around our fast-growing community.

The Southwest Water Treatment Plant is the first in the United States to utilize a pressure exchanger in a brackish water reverse osmosis system. It operates under high pressures to force water through a fine filter to remove salt and leave behind clean water for further treatment.

The facility is rated for 2 million gallons per day of potable water production. There is room to expand to 5 million gallons per day as growth continues throughout North Port.

While this plant is located within Wellen Park, at 11820 Manasota Beach Road, it serves a City-wide purpose.

“Although the plant was built with new development in mind, it can also serve the City to the east of the Myakka River,” Utilities Director Nancy Gallinaro said. “North Port is unique in its ability to provide water from multiple sources and can also assist Port Charlotte and Sarasota County in an emergency.”

West Villages Improvement District and the developers worked together to construct and pay for the roughly $40 million facility. The City of North Port owns and operates the building.

The City put together a virtual tour of the state-of-the-art plant to help the public understand all this plant does.

The Utilities Department is planning tours for the public. Visit www.NorthPortFL.gov/Utilities to find tour dates and times to sign up.