Flooding across U.S. southern coastal states is becoming more frequent and severe as weather patterns shift and climate events intensify. In some areas, floods can occur even on clear, sunny days. This phenomenon is known as “sunny-day flooding” and happens when unusually high tides — driven in part by rising sea levels — push seawater through stormwater systems and into streets. Add to that the widespread destruction caused by stronger hurricanes, and the result is extensive, costly damage.
On Florida’s west coast, cities such as St. Petersburg and Tampa are taking proactive steps to combat these challenges. In 2019, the City of Tampa approved Progressive Infrastructure Planning to Ensure Sustainability (PIPES), a $2.9 billion investment in water infrastructure improvements. A few years later, the City of St. Petersburg followed suit and approved $19 million for infrastructure improvement projects in 2025, which is an addition to multiple infrastructure projects already underway. Together, these investments signal a regional shift toward long‑term, proactive solutions.
“Flooding and tidal impacts in coastal cities are real and increasing,” says David Ojeda, a senior capital projects coordinator with the City of St. Petersburg. “Waiting for disaster to strike only raises costs and disrupts communities. From our perspective, the solution is to proactively address these challenges to ensure smoother delivery, better engineering solutions, and overall, less strain on residents and resources.”
By partnering on crucial projects with PCL Construction’s Civil East office, St. Petersburg and Tampa are implementing innovative solutions designed to strengthen systems and protect communities from climate-driven flooding.
In 2024, St. Petersburg recorded eight high-tide flood days, double the previous record of four set in 2018. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a flood day occurs when hourly water levels exceed a flood threshold for at least one hour. The impact is long-lasting damage.
To tackle the issue of high-tide flooding, the City of St. Petersburg launched a backflow prevention project with PCL in 2024 to stop high-tide water from backing up through stormwater systems. Shore Acres, one of St. Petersburg’s most flood-prone neighborhoods due to its low elevation and bowl-like shape, was chosen for the pilot program. Here, sunny-day flooding not only damages homes but also corrodes vehicles, deteriorates asphalt and kills landscaping due to saltwater contamination.
Starting in 2024, PCL began the installation of 14 Wapro WaStop® valves in Shore Acres. The results were so successful that the project expanded, and 78 valves have now been installed citywide, significantly reducing flood risk and protecting infrastructure.
How do these backflow prevention valves work? Think of it like a one-way door for water. The WaStop valve sits inside a stormwater pipe and only lets water flow out, but never back in. When rainwater needs to drain, the valve opens easily. But if high tides or floodwaters try to push water back through the pipe, the valve stays shut. This prevents saltwater from entering streets and properties through the stormwater system.
In addition to high-tide flood mitigation efforts, St. Petersburg is also reinforcing resilience deeper within its wastewater network. The Northwest Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) Improvements project focuses on modernizing aging infrastructure and making critical upgrades. While the enhancements primarily improve day‑to‑day operations, another driver behind the project is spill prevention. After major hurricanes in 2024 temporarily limited operations at the city’s two other water reclamation facilities, the Northwest WRF assumed a larger responsibility for managing wastewater flows. This placed demands on the system beyond its original design capacity. Extreme weather combined with steadily rising average rainfall continues to increase processing loads, amplifying the risk of system overflows and hazardous flooding.
The improvements at the Northwest WRF expand the facility’s operational reliability, allowing it to better absorb heavy rainfall and storm‑driven surges that could otherwise overwhelm the system. By reducing the risk of spills during extreme weather events, the project strengthens St. Petersburg’s overall resiliency strategy and ensures the city is better prepared for the next major storm.
Together with the city’s high-tide flood mitigation and pump station upgrades, the Northwest WRF Improvements project reflects a comprehensive approach to protecting public health, safeguarding waterways, and modernizing essential infrastructure for the long term.
Without fortification, much of Tampa’s essential facilities remain vulnerable during major climate events. That’s why the City of Tampa is also strengthening its frontline defenses against increasingly intense storm events. One recent project is the Bayshore Wastewater Pumping Station Rehabilitation, which included a full modernization of the 1950s‑era facility located along the iconic Bayshore Boulevard.
The station had long been vulnerable to major flooding, with aging pumps and underground electrical systems that were exposed to storm surges. As recent hurricanes demonstrated — including widespread destruction from Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, which struck just two weeks apart in 2024.
Rehabilitating the Bayshore station required solving both technical and logistical challenges. The pump station sits within a tight 48‑foot‑wide median, bordered by live traffic on both sides throughout construction, which influenced every design and sequencing decision.
Through close collaboration with the City, the PCL team evaluated what long‑term configuration would deliver the highest reliability. The final project centered on several key upgrades:
- Replacing aging pumps with four submersible units, each able to run underwater and handle up to 6,500 gallons per minute, ensuring uninterrupted operation even during extreme flooding.
- Elevating all electrical components into an above-ground structure surrounded by 10‑foot‑tall, 18‑inch‑thick walls to safeguard vital systems during major storms.
- Integrating a new backup generator capable of operating for up to three days without refueling, ensuring the station remains operational even if the main power grid goes down.
“These upgrades were designed so the station can stay operational through hurricanes and during the recovery period after a storm,” says Tyler Brewer, a project manager with PCL’s Tampa Civil office. “For the team, the focus was making sure the station could operate autonomously through a major storm and remain online during the recovery period, even when access isn’t possible.”
The Bayshore project shows how forward‑thinking infrastructure planning, combined with careful coordination during construction, can help coastal cities adapt to increasingly volatile weather. Brewer emphasizes the importance of working closely with city officials, nearby residents, and local stakeholders throughout construction to preserve access, safety and clear communication along a highly visible corridor.
“This project shows that even in a really tight, urban, and highly visible location, you can still build infrastructure that’s ready for major storm impacts,” says Brewer. The upgrades, from elevated electrical systems to submersible pumps, reflect a city preparing not just for the next storm, but for current and future climate realities. By modernizing critical wastewater infrastructure, Tampa is ensuring essential services remain uninterrupted, protecting residents and reducing costly emergency repairs.
As coastal communities across Florida confront rising tides and stronger storms, flood mitigation construction projects show what’s possible when cities invest early and boldly in infrastructure. By pairing thoughtful design with proactive planning, the cities of St. Petersburg and Tampa are strengthening the systems that keep communities safe and functioning during extreme weather. These improvements not only protect residents today but also build a foundation for long‑term climate resilience.