Apalachicola Water Transfer Moves Toward Dec. 1 as City Advances New-Well Procurement
Apalachicola is preparing for two connected changes in its water system: the city is seeking engineering services for a new municipal well, while state law schedules the transfer of the city-owned water and sewer utility to the independent Apalachicola Water and Sewer District on Dec. 1, 2026.
The transfer has not occurred as of Aug. 3, 2026. The city and the district still must coordinate the movement of utility property, contracts, liabilities, regulatory responsibilities and employees.
New well project enters engineering procurement
The City of Apalachicola released RFP 2026-006 on June 23, 2026, for engineering services connected to a new municipal well. The requested work covers hydrogeological planning and siting, design, permitting, bid assistance, and construction engineering and inspection.
The solicitation says Apalachicola was awarded $1.5 million through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s SAHM/Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program. The award provides 100% loan forgiveness, although the project remains subject to state and federal requirements.
The engineering scope includes evaluating Floridan Aquifer capacity and water-quality history, identifying a site that limits saltwater-intrusion and coastal-storm risks, preparing plans for the wellhead and pump, securing permits, assisting with construction bidding, and monitoring construction. The RFP does not show that construction has begun or that an engineering firm has been awarded the contract.
The well procurement may outlast city control
The RFP says the city is managing the project now, but the project may be transferred to the Apalachicola Water and Sewer District while the engineering contract is active. It also requires all infrastructure work and reimbursements to be completed by Dec. 15, 2031, with no extensions stated in the solicitation.
That provision connects the well procurement to the broader utility transition. Engineering, permitting or construction decisions could span the city’s current administration of the project and the district’s future ownership and operation of the water system.
What HB 4103 requires before the transfer
Enrolled CS/CS/HB 4103 creates the Apalachicola Water and Sewer District as an independent special district. The district’s area includes Apalachicola’s city boundaries and existing customers served by the city utility; the law does not make the district countywide.
The law requires the city and district to enter an interlocal agreement by the later of July 1, 2026, or 30 days after the governor makes the initial appointments to the district board. The agreement must address an assessment of city-held utility assets, regulatory and permitting cooperation, the transition of assets and liabilities, and district employees’ membership in the Florida Retirement System.
If the parties do not enter the agreement by the applicable deadline, the law gives the district sole authority to make the determinations needed to complete the transfer, with those decisions binding on both governments. The reviewed materials do not establish that a signed interlocal agreement has been executed.
On Dec. 1, 2026, city-owned property used to provide water and sewer service, along with related assets, contracts, obligations and liabilities, is scheduled to transfer to the district. Existing city water and sewer contracts remain in force. Current city employees who provide water and sewer service are to become district employees, and the district must ensure that they continue membership in the Florida Retirement System.
What residents and businesses should watch
The district board will have authority to set and revise water and sewer rates and charges. Under the law, those rates must be just and equitable and support system operations, reserves, debt payments and related costs. The law also states that the district cannot impose or collect ad valorem property taxes.
The city’s July 6 customer Q&A says routine service, billing and maintenance are intended to continue without disruption during the transition. That guidance describes the expected day-to-day experience; it does not establish that future rates, deposits or customer procedures have already been set. The law gives the district authority over rates and charges and permits disconnection for unpaid charges under specified conditions.
The five-member board is to include three governor-appointed members, one appointed by the Franklin County Board of County Commissioners and one appointed by the Apalachicola City Commission. Board appointments, the interlocal agreement, the final engineering award and any future billing or rate decisions remain important implementation questions.
Residents and businesses should watch city agendas and minutes, procurement notices, district-board notices and future customer updates. Local reporting by The Apalachicola Times has described disagreements over the takeover and an estimated transition cost of about $500,000. That figure is a reported estimate, not a final budget.
Sources
- City of Apalachicola RFP 2026-006: Engineering Services for New Municipal Well
- Enrolled CS/CS/HB 4103, Apalachicola Water and Sewer District
- The Apalachicola Times: Governor OKs state takeover of Apalachicola water system
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