St. Pete allocates $19.1 million to resilient infrastructure – St Pete Catalyst

St. Petersburg Infrastructure Investment Report: Enhancing Resilience in Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

The City of St. Petersburg has approved a total investment of $19.1 million to significantly upgrade its water and stormwater infrastructure. This initiative, prompted by the increasing threat of climate-related disasters such as Hurricane Milton, directly supports several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). The projects focus on storm-hardening critical facilities to ensure the continuity of essential public services and enhance community resilience against the impacts of climate change.

Southwest Water Reclamation Facility (SWWRF) Modernization

A contract of $18.3 million has been awarded to Ajax Construction to overhaul the SWWRF, a critical component of the city’s sanitation system. This project is a direct investment in resilient infrastructure (SDG 9) and climate adaptation (SDG 13).

• Objective: To replace the existing 50-year-old, non-resilient operations buildings with a single, consolidated facility designed to withstand extreme weather events. This ensures the uninterrupted provision of sanitation services, a key target of SDG 6.
• Funding: The project is partially funded by an $8.8 million Resilient Florida grant, demonstrating a partnership approach to achieving sustainability goals (SDG 17).
• Resilience Specifications:
  1. The new three-story building is engineered to withstand a Category 5 hurricane.
  2. Critical control systems (SCADA) will be housed on the third floor, 30 feet above sea level, exceeding the 28-foot 500-year storm surge threshold.
  3. The first level, containing maintenance equipment, will be fully flood-proofed.
• Impact on SDG 11: By preventing facility failure during major storms, the project safeguards public health and makes the urban environment of St. Petersburg safer and more resilient to natural disasters.

Stormwater Conveyance System Enhancement

A contract of $770,504 was allocated to Jacobs Engineering Group to inspect and improve the city’s stormwater infrastructure. This proactive measure is vital for effective water management and disaster risk reduction, aligning with SDG 6 and SDG 11.

• Scope of Work:
  • Develop comprehensive asset management solutions.
  • Audit the existing stormwater conveyance system database.
  • Create and implement new inspection workflows.
  • Conduct inspections and rate the condition of stormwater pipes.
• Contribution to SDGs: This data-driven approach to infrastructure management improves the city’s capacity to handle extreme rainfall and prevent flooding, directly contributing to the climate action goals of SDG 13 and the creation of sustainable communities under SDG 11. It also supports the integrated water resources management target of SDG 6.

Conclusion: Commitment to Sustainable Development

The administration’s commitment to these infrastructure projects underscores a strategic focus on building a sustainable and resilient city. The investments are foundational steps that demonstrate a clear and tangible alignment with the following Sustainable Development Goals:

• SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation): Ensuring the operational integrity of water reclamation and stormwater systems, even during disasters.
• SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): Building reliable, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure capable of withstanding climate shocks.
• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): Making the city safer and more resilient by reducing the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to climate-related hazards.
• SDG 13 (Climate Action): Strengthening adaptive capacity and resilience to the intensifying impacts of climate change, such as hurricanes and storm surges.

Analysis of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article highlights issues and actions that are directly connected to several Sustainable Development Goals. The primary focus on upgrading water infrastructure to withstand climate-related disasters touches upon goals related to water, infrastructure, sustainable cities, and climate action.

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  The article is centered on the Southwest Water Reclamation Facility (a sewage treatment plant) and the city’s stormwater infrastructure. These are core components of water and sanitation systems. The investment aims to ensure these services remain operational even during disasters, which is crucial for public health and environmental protection.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

  The project involves a significant investment ($19.1 million) to build resilient, reliable, and sustainable infrastructure. The article details the demolition of a 50-year-old building and the construction of a new one designed to withstand a Category 5 storm, directly aligning with the goal of upgrading infrastructure to make it more resilient.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The efforts described are part of a broader strategy by the city of St. Petersburg to make the community more resilient to future disasters. The mayor’s statement, “With Environment, Infrastructure and Resilience as one of our Pillars for Progress,” confirms a city-level commitment to creating a safe and resilient urban environment.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  The article explicitly states that the projects are “designed to increase resiliency against climate change” and that “Climate change impacts are intensifying.” The entire initiative is a direct response to the threat of climate-related hazards like hurricanes and storm surges, demonstrating a clear effort to strengthen adaptive capacity.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the specific actions and goals mentioned in the article, several SDG targets can be identified:

1. SDG Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure

   The article’s main focus is the $18.3 million contract to “storm-harden the critical facility.” The new building is designed to “withstand a Category 5 storm” and “meet Cat 5 flood stage,” ensuring the city can provide “more reliable public works service before, during and after disasters.” This is a direct implementation of developing resilient and reliable infrastructure.

2. SDG Target 11.5: Significantly reduce the number of people affected and decrease economic losses from disasters

   By making the water reclamation facility resilient to storm surges and hurricanes, the city aims to prevent service disruptions. The article notes that the mayor had to shutter two facilities before Hurricane Milton, which “prevented two-thirds of the city from flushing their toilets.” The new infrastructure is designed to prevent such widespread impact on residents during future disasters.

3. SDG Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters

   The project is a clear example of strengthening resilience to climate-related hazards. The design specification of placing the “guts and brains of the whole system” (the SCADA system) 30 feet above sea level, which is above the 500-year storm surge threshold of 28 feet, is a specific measure to adapt to and withstand the impacts of climate change.

4. SDG Target 11.b: Increase the number of cities implementing policies and plans towards resilience to disasters

   The mayor’s statement that “Environment, Infrastructure and Resilience as one of our Pillars for Progress” indicates that the city has an integrated plan for disaster resilience. The approval of these projects by the City Council demonstrates the implementation of this plan.

5. SDG Target 6.3: Improve water quality by reducing pollution

   While not the primary focus, the $770,504 contract to “inspect and improve stormwater infrastructure” and “inspect and rate pipes” is a foundational step towards managing stormwater effectively. Properly managed stormwater systems are crucial for preventing pollution from runoff and protecting water quality in receiving bodies of water.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article contains several specific, measurable indicators that can be used to track progress towards the identified targets.

• Indicator for Resilience and Infrastructure Quality (Targets 9.1, 13.1)

  The article provides concrete technical specifications that serve as indicators of resilience. These include:

  • The new building’s design rating to withstand a “Category 5 storm.”
  • The elevation of the critical SCADA system at “30 feet above sea level,” exceeding the “500-year storm surge threshold” of 28 feet.

• Financial Investment as an Indicator (Targets 9.1, 11.5)

  The financial commitment to these projects is a clear indicator of the city’s efforts. The article specifies:

  • “$18.3 million contract to storm-harden the critical facility.”
  • “$770,504 to inspect and improve stormwater infrastructure.”
  • An $8.8 million “Resilient Florida grant” to help fund the project.

• Indicator for Disaster Resilience Planning (Target 11.b)

  The existence and implementation of a formal city strategy serve as a qualitative indicator. The article mentions the mayor’s “Pillars for Progress,” which includes “Environment, Infrastructure and Resilience,” confirming that the city has adopted a resilience plan.

• Indicator for Water System Management (Target 6.3)

  The contract with Jacobs Engineering Group includes specific deliverables that can be used as indicators of progress in managing the stormwater system:

  • The development of “asset management solutions.”
  • The completion of an “audit the city’s stormwater conveyance system database.”
  • The creation of “inspection workflows” and the action to “inspect and rate pipes.”

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: stpetecatalyst.com