Sustainability Partners begins Sun ‘N Lake wastewater facility overhaul as critical infrastructure ages out

Sustainability Partners, a Public Benefit Company known for financing and managing long-term infrastructure upgrades for public entities, has joined forces with the Sun ‘N Lake Improvement District in Highlands County, Florida, to initiate the phased replacement of a wastewater treatment plant that has served the region for nearly 50 years. The replacement facility is expected to bring modern technology, environmental safeguards, and future capacity to a growing community of over 11,000 properties.

According to Sustainability Partners, the existing plant has reached the end of its service life and is no longer viable for efficient or sustainable operations. Michael Tari, an infrastructure partner at Sustainability Partners, noted that the new plant would not only handle wastewater more efficiently but would also produce cleaner effluent, reducing the environmental load on local waterways and groundwater sources. The transition is designed to eliminate frequent unplanned maintenance and establish cost predictability for the Sun ‘N Lake Improvement District, which is currently funding the first phase of the redevelopment.

Why Sun ‘N Lake’s plant upgrade signals a broader infrastructure pivot in Florida communities

The Highlands County project represents more than just a replacement of aging equipment. It highlights a regional shift toward environmentally responsible, centralized wastewater management systems that replace legacy septic tanks and private wells. This transition is particularly urgent in areas like Sun ‘N Lake, where the cumulative impact of thousands of outdated systems has begun to affect aquifer levels, soil health, and water quality.

Raymond Bossert, General Manager of the Sun ‘N Lake Improvement District, explained that the new facility is being designed to support comprehensive utility access across all residential and commercial properties within the district’s limits. Once operational, the upgraded system will offer universal sewer connectivity and reclaimed water services. This infrastructure expansion will allow property owners to retire their private septic systems and reduce dependency on individual wells, which have long posed risks to long-term aquifer viability.

Bossert emphasized that the effort is aligned with the district’s environmental preservation mission, noting that providing reclaimed water for irrigation will also reduce strain on potable water supplies. In effect, the project stands as both a utility modernization strategy and a broader water stewardship initiative.

What phase one includes and who is leading the engineering groundwork

The first phase of the Sun ‘N Lake wastewater plant redevelopment will involve extensive pre-construction work. Sustainability Partners has enlisted The Haskell Company and the Ardurra Group to conduct early-stage assessments and technical design. This work includes site mapping, environmental impact reviews, underground infrastructure identification, and the preparation of conceptual design models.

Michael Tari noted that these initial steps are critical to avoiding common delays that can plague large public works projects. By investing heavily in pre-construction accuracy, the district and its partners aim to reduce the risk of budget overruns and timeline extensions once construction begins. Groundbreaking is expected in 2026, with the plant’s commissioning targeted for 2029.

The involvement of seasoned engineering and design firms underscores the project’s complexity. The Haskell Company, headquartered in Jacksonville, is a fully integrated architecture, engineering, construction, and consulting firm with an annual delivery volume of over $2 billion. The firm brings to bear a global workforce of more than 2,600 professionals and has led critical infrastructure projects across sectors ranging from water and energy to commercial and industrial builds.

Ardurra Group, based in Miami, brings deep engineering expertise in water systems, transportation, aviation, and municipal consulting. The firm is backed by Littlejohn & Co., a private equity investor with roughly $8 billion in assets under management. Ardurra’s involvement reflects the growing trend of private capital supporting long-horizon public infrastructure investments.

How Sustainability Partners’ utility model changes the financing conversation for municipalities

One of the defining aspects of this initiative is its financial architecture. Sustainability Partners operates a utility-style infrastructure model that enables public entities to upgrade essential systems without upfront capital expenditure. Instead of requiring bonds or state funding allocations, the Public Benefit Company enters into month-to-month usage agreements with its clients, covering funding, deployment, and ongoing maintenance over time.

This model has proven especially attractive to municipalities and special districts that lack the liquidity or political bandwidth to undertake multi-million dollar capital projects. In 2022, Sustainability Partners helped Jacksonville University overhaul its potable water system while simultaneously developing a stormwater retention network that would have otherwise been financially unfeasible under conventional procurement methods.

Tari explained that this approach allows local governments to pursue core upgrades without derailing other budgetary priorities. It also ensures that new systems remain continuously maintained under a service-level agreement, thereby avoiding the all-too-common pattern of deferred maintenance and infrastructure decay.

For the Sun ‘N Lake Improvement District, this model translates into immediate action without waiting for state appropriations or navigating complex grant cycles. The district retains local control while offloading technical risk and long-term upkeep to an entity whose business model is aligned with public service continuity.

What benefits residents and property owners should expect once the plant is operational

The wastewater facility will play a foundational role in enhancing both service delivery and environmental quality throughout the Sun ‘N Lake community. By replacing thousands of private septic tanks with centralized wastewater management, the district is mitigating one of the most persistent non-point sources of groundwater pollution.

With reclaimed water available from the facility, residents may also benefit from reduced irrigation costs and an overall decrease in potable water usage for non-drinking applications. This has implications not only for residential property owners but also for the commercial sector, including golf courses, parks, and landscape-dependent businesses that operate in the area.

From a planning perspective, the facility increases the district’s readiness for future population growth. The expansion in capacity ensures that new residential and commercial developments can be supported without straining existing infrastructure or requiring costly retrofits.

Bossert noted that once the system is in place, the district will be able to divert more resources toward community development projects. With the core utilities secured, there is room to invest in areas like transportation, public amenities, and recreational assets that enhance quality of life and property values.

Why private equity and infrastructure investors are turning to wastewater projects in the Southeastern United States

The Sun ‘N Lake project comes at a time when institutional investors and private equity firms are increasingly turning their attention to water and utility infrastructure across the Southeastern United States. Ardurra Group’s relationship with Littlejohn & Co. exemplifies this dynamic, as private capital seeks stable, long-duration investments with environmental impact potential.

Meanwhile, Public Benefit Companies like Sustainability Partners are proving that utility-as-a-service models can scale across diverse geographies and project types. Their involvement in both university campuses and suburban improvement districts illustrates the broad applicability of this financing and stewardship model.

As Florida continues to grapple with the environmental fallout of unchecked development and climate-related stressors, projects like this wastewater treatment upgrade may serve as blueprints for other regions seeking a balance between economic growth and environmental resilience.

What comes next in Sun ‘N Lake’s infrastructure roadmap

Construction on the facility is expected to begin in 2026, following the completion of phase one assessments. Once the plant is operational by 2029, full sewer connectivity and reclaimed water availability will be extended to all 11,000 properties in the district.

Analysts tracking sustainability infrastructure trends view this project as a landmark example of how long-delayed upgrades can be achieved through innovative partnerships without burdening local taxpayers. As Florida faces growing demand for utility modernization, districts that adopt this approach may be better positioned to attract funding, manage climate risks, and improve public health outcomes over time.

With long-term operational cost stability and regulatory compliance built into the project from the outset, Sun ‘N Lake is setting the stage for a more resilient and growth-ready future.

What are the key takeaways from the Sun ‘N Lake wastewater infrastructure upgrade?

• The following points summarize the most important developments in Sustainability Partners’ wastewater plant project with the Sun ‘N Lake Improvement District:

• Sustainability Partners has partnered with the Sun ‘N Lake Improvement District in Florida to replace an outdated wastewater treatment plant that has been operational for nearly five decades.

• The project will transition the district from a fragmented system of private septic tanks and wells to a modern, centralized wastewater facility with reclaimed water capabilities.

• Phase one includes pre-construction work such as environmental assessments, mapping, and conceptual design, led by The Haskell Company and Ardurra Group.

• Construction is scheduled to begin in 2026 and conclude in 2029, with the upgraded plant set to double treatment capacity and enable sewer connectivity across all 11,000-plus properties in the district.

• The new system aims to reduce groundwater contamination risks, eliminate unplanned maintenance costs, and provide reclaimed water for irrigation, thereby supporting long-term water sustainability.

• Sustainability Partners’ utility-style service model allows the project to move forward without upfront capital expenditure, instead offering flexible month-to-month infrastructure usage agreements.

• The involvement of firms like Littlejohn & Co. and Ardurra Group underscores rising institutional interest in water infrastructure across the Southeast United States.

• The wastewater plant upgrade is positioned as a cornerstone for future community development, environmental protection, and utility resilience in Highlands County.