Have you ever wondered where our water comes from, the journey it takes, and how we treat it? Well, wonder no more. We’re here to help!
Previous blog posts have covered the topic of Sarasota’s drinking water, going into detail about the different treatments our water goes through, but did you know that residents of Sarasota County have the opportunity to see these processes in person? On top of regular programming from UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County related to water resources and supply, the T. Mabry Carlton Water Treatment Facility in Venice occasionally opens up for free, behind-the-scene tours led by the chief plant operator.
T. Mabry Carlton Water Treatment Facility
A central component of this crucial upgrade was the replacement of the plant’s original electrodialysis reversal (EDR) units, which had reached the end of their operational lifespan. The modernized facility now operates ten advanced treatment units, each capable of producing 1.5 million gallons per day. This gives the Carlton plant a total production capacity of up to 15 million gallons per day of high-quality drinking water.
To meet total regional demand and maintain a resilient water system, Sarasota County strategically supplements this production with water from regional partners. The county’s diverse water portfolio includes the purchase of an additional 15 million gallons per day from the Peace River/Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority and 4 million gallons per day from Manatee County, ensuring a secure and stable supply for all residents.
This plant is the largest electrodialysis reversal water treatment facility in the United States. On a global scale, it ranks as the second-largest in the world, surpassed only by the “Aigües Ter-Llobregat” facility in Barcelona, which serves 116 municipalities in the Catalonia region.
Electrodialysis Reversal
The T. Mabry Carlton Water Treatment Facility uses electrodialysis reversal to transform highly mineralized groundwater from local wells into fresh, high-quality drinking water. Think of it as a powerful sorting system.
EDR uses electricity to create positive and negative charges that act like magnets, pulling dissolved minerals and salts directly out of the water. As the water flows between specialized membranes, these unwanted particles are guided into a separate channel, leaving purified water behind. The leftover water is then relatively free of solids and can undergo the necessary round of chemical treatments to become clean, safe drinking water.
EDR also is a very efficient process, as it recovers about 80 percent of the water that is extracted from wells at the facility.
Achievements
Every year, Sarasota County reaffirms their dedication to bring residents safe, high-quality and reliable drinking water, meeting compliance and receiving stellar results. Despite severe weather events we faced last year, the County, and Public Utilities in particular, overcame unique challenges to our infrastructure, ensuring that residents were safe and serviced. The county has also received the American Water Works Association’s best-tasting water honor in 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2025.
Join us!
Reading about the journey your water takes is one thing, but seeing the immense effort and technology behind it firsthand is an unforgettable experience. If this story has sparked your curiosity, we invite you to go deeper.
Join us for a public tour, sign up for one of our hands-on classes, or explore our website to discover our full range of webinars and community programs. We believe an informed community is an empowered one, and we love sharing our work with you.
For educators, community leaders, or businesses interested in scheduling a private tour for your students, staff, or team members, please email us directly at vyon@scgov.net to make arrangements. Other program areas like Ecology and Natural Resources, Chemicals in the Environment, and Florida Friendly-Landscaping™ offer onsite tours of other places of interest in Sarasota County. Look for the “ex•plore” tag!
During the preparation of this work, the author used ChatGPT to help build the blog post. After using this tool/service, the author reviewed and edited the content, and takes full responsibility for the content of the publication.
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