Tampa says in-house water crew has saved nearly $1.8 million in three years

Tampa says its in-house water construction team has saved nearly $1.8 million over the past three years since the city created its first Engineering Construction Team. The 10-person crew was established in late 2023, and the city says it saved about $445,000 from October 2025 through September 2026 compared with outsourcing the work.

What the crew has been doing

The city says the team installed 2,895 linear feet of water main during that same period, often replacing pipelines that are more than 80 years old. Tampa also says the department continues to partner with outside contractors on major infrastructure improvements while the in-house crew handles key projects.

West Empedrado Street work

The crew is also working along West Empedrado Street in Palma Ceia, where it is in the final stages of a six-month water main replacement. Tampa says the project is replacing about 2,500 linear feet of aging pipe with larger-diameter pipes that should improve water pressure, water quality and fire protection.