Contact: Lily Jackson, Communications Coordinator
(o) 251-943-5001 | (c) 251-597-6916
ljackson@rivierautilities.com
Foley, Ala. — Riviera Utilities will celebrate a major investment in Baldwin County's growing water system with the dedication and commissioning of the new Schreiber Water Treatment Plant on Tuesday, November 10, at 11 a.m. The ceremony will be held at the facility, located at 120-B County Road 20 in Foley, and will include a dedication ceremony, light bites, and tours of the new plant.
The facility will be named in honor of former Riviera Utilities Board Member Bob Schreiber, recognizing his service and contributions to the Utility and the community.
The new plant represents years of planning to expand Riviera's water capacity as Baldwin County continues to grow. Early planning for the site dates back to 2015, with the first test wells drilled in 2019 and 2020 to determine the feasibility of expanding water capacity in the area. The Riviera Utilities Board approved funding for the project in September 2024, and construction began in December 2024.
Once the new facility is placed into service, Riviera's existing South Water Plant, which is rated at 1,500 gallons per minute, will be retired. The Schreiber Water Treatment Plant is designed to grow alongside the community, with an ultimate buildout capacity of 7,000 gallons per minute, or approximately 10 million gallons per day, by 2035 through the addition of six future wells.
“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.”
In addition to adding capacity, the new facility incorporates technology designed to improve safety and efficiency for both employees and the surrounding community. A liquid lime system will be used for pH adjustment, reducing the lifting and handling required of operators, while a hypochlorite disinfection system replaces traditional chlorine gas and eliminates the risk of an accidental chlorine gas release.
The plant also includes peak-shaving electrical switchgear, which allows Riviera to better manage the facility's electrical demand during peak periods and supports Riviera's continued efforts to keep community power costs low. Landscaping at the facility will feature native plants.
Riviera Utilities extends its appreciation to the Riviera Utilities Board, GMC Engineering, J&P Contracting, Johnson Well Drilling and Riviera's Water Department Operations staff for their work throughout the project.
The Schreiber Water Treatment Plant is one piece of a larger investment in Riviera's water system planned over the next several years. 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 plant on Fern Avenue, new water storage tanks in Elberta and southwest Baldwin County, raw water mains connecting new wells to treatment facilities, and 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, Chief Operating Officer for Riviera Utilities. “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 public and members of the media are invited to attend the Schreiber Water Treatment Plant Dedication & Commissioning Ceremony on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, at 11 a.m. at 120-B County Road 20 in Foley. Guests will have an opportunity to tour the new facility following the ceremony.
Riviera Utilities is a public utility company serving the South Baldwin and the Eastern Shore communities. For media requests or for more information about Riviera, please email communications@rivierautilities.com.
