Riviera Utilities to Dedicate New Schreiber Water Treatment Plant in Foley Nov. 10, Adding Capacity for Growing Baldwin County

FOLEY, Ala. — Riviera Utilities will celebrate one of the largest investments in its water system in years with the dedication and commissioning of the new Schreiber Water Treatment Plant on Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 11 a.m.

The public ceremony will be held at the plant, 120-B County Road 20 in Foley, and will include a dedication program, light bites and guided tours of the new facility. The plant is named in honor of former Riviera Utilities board member Bob Schreiber, recognizing his service to the utility and the community.

Riviera says the plant is designed to grow with the area it serves, with room to expand to about 10 million gallons of water a day over the next decade as south Baldwin County continues to add homes and businesses.

A decade in the making

The new plant is the product of years of planning to expand Riviera’s water capacity. According to the utility:

• 2015: Early planning for the site began.
• 2019 and 2020: The first test wells were drilled to determine whether expanding water capacity in the area was feasible.
• September 2024: The Riviera Utilities Board approved funding for the project.
• December 2024: Construction began.
• Nov. 10, 2026: Dedication and commissioning ceremony.

Replacing an older plant and planning for growth

Once the Schreiber plant is in service, Riviera will retire its existing South Water Plant, which is rated at 1,500 gallons per minute.

The new plant is built to expand in stages. Through the addition of six future wells, it is designed to reach an ultimate buildout capacity of 7,000 gallons per minute, or roughly 10 million gallons per day, by 2035.

For perspective, 1,500 gallons per minute works out to a little over 2 million gallons a day if a plant runs around the clock. A plant capable of 7,000 gallons per minute could deliver more than four and a half times that amount at full buildout.

“The completion of the Schreiber Water Treatment Plant is a major water infrastructure project that is a first step in securing the future water security for our community for the next decade,” said Lee Kibler, Riviera Utilities’ water systems engineer. “Building a top-quality, resilient project takes a team of experts and dedicated craftsmen. I am humbled by their dedication and commitment to providing Riviera Utilities a facility to be proud of and relied upon for the decades to come.”

Safer chemicals and smarter power use

Beyond adding capacity, Riviera says the new plant includes technology meant to improve safety and efficiency for both employees and neighbors.

Liquid lime for pH adjustment. The plant will use a liquid lime system to adjust the water’s pH. Controlling pH helps protect pipes and plumbing from corrosion and keeps water chemistry stable. The liquid system reduces the heavy lifting and handling that operators would otherwise do with dry chemicals.

Hypochlorite disinfection instead of chlorine gas. The plant will disinfect water with a hypochlorite system, replacing traditional chlorine gas. Riviera says the change eliminates the risk of an accidental chlorine gas release, a hazard that utilities nationwide have worked to reduce because of the danger gas leaks pose to workers and nearby residents.

Peak-shaving electrical switchgear. The plant’s electrical equipment allows Riviera to better manage the facility’s power demand during peak periods. Reducing a large facility’s electricity use when demand is highest can lower costs, and Riviera says the feature supports its continuing efforts to keep power costs low for the community.

Native landscaping. The grounds will feature native plants, which generally need less water and maintenance once established.

Part of a larger water investment

Riviera describes the Schreiber plant as one piece of a larger investment in its water system planned over the next several years. Upcoming projects include:

• Six additional wells
• A new 2,000-gallon-per-minute water treatment plant in southeast Foley
• A new 7,000-gallon-per-minute treatment plant on Fern Avenue
• New water storage tanks in Elberta and southwest Baldwin County
• Raw water mains connecting new wells to treatment facilities
• Thousands of feet of large-diameter water transmission lines

“The Schreiber Water Treatment Plant represents our commitment to planning today for the needs of the communities we will serve tomorrow,” said Tony Schachle, Riviera Utilities’ chief operating officer. “This is more than a new water plant — it is a significant investment in the reliability, resiliency, and long-term capacity of Riviera Utilities’ water system. We are proud of the team that brought this project from years of planning to reality, and we are grateful to our Board, our partners, and our employees who made it possible. Most importantly, this facility gives us a strong foundation to continue providing safe, reliable water to our customers for decades to come.”

The team behind the project

Riviera thanked the Riviera Utilities Board, GMC Engineering, J&P Contracting, Johnson Well Drilling and its own Water Department operations staff for their work on the project.

Why it matters for south Baldwin County

Baldwin County has been one of the fastest-growing counties in Alabama for years, and the Foley area has seen steady residential and commercial development. Planning water capacity years ahead of demand helps a utility avoid shortfalls during the hottest, driest stretches of summer and during the busy tourist season, when water use climbs.

The dedication also comes during a time of change for Riviera’s leadership. The utility recently announced that President and CEO Brian Skelton plans to retire at the end of November after a 41-year career in municipal utilities.

If you go

• What: Schreiber Water Treatment Plant Dedication & Commissioning Ceremony
• When: Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026, at 11 a.m.
• Where: 120-B County Road 20, Foley
• Includes: Dedication ceremony, light bites and tours of the new plant following the ceremony
• Cost: Open to the public