Adam RollinsThe Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) will distribute nearly $2.7 billion in financial assistance to support water and wastewater infrastructure projects across the state. Each award will supplement local funds and expedite project delivery.
A selection of the highest value projects receiving funds include:
The city of Houston will receive the largest portion of the allocated funding – $967 million. The funding will empower city leaders to invest in new treatment facilities designed to produce 360 million gallons per day (mgd) of drinking water, supplementing the existing East Water Purification Plant. The new facilities will utilize conventional treatment methods along with ozonation and biofiltration to effectively treat the water.
The North Texas Municipal Water District – an organization composed of nine counties – will use its $880.8 million share to build and improve two water systems. The first initiative will involve installing a second high service pump station to conclude the third phase of its Bois d’Arc project, increasing its maximum capacity to 175 million mgd. For the second project, the district will build two pipelines – 27 miles and nine miles long, respectively – using 84-inch pipe to transport water from Lake Texoma.
The city of McAllen will spend $198.5 million to build a brackish groundwater desalination plant, along with associated infrastructure at the existing North Water Treatment Plant. The project will develop a groundwater well field composed of two deep wells and four shallow wells. The field will also include around 8,500 feet of raw and finished water transmission lines, ground storage, electrical and control systems and system enhancements. A portion of the award will be used to expand the city’s available water supply by acquiring surface water rights.
Fort Worth will receive $180 million to expand the Eagle Mountain Water Treatment Plant. The project will involve installing a raw water ozone system, flocculation and sedimentation basins, biological filtration, membrane filtration, disinfection and other improvements. Once completed, the initiative will expand the plant’s capacity by 35 mgd and open the door to future expansion.
The Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority – representing Travis and Williamson counties – will spend $72.5 million to increase the Brushy Creek Regional Water Treatment Plant’s capacity. Once completed, the plant will be able to handle up to 64 mgd.
The Baytown Area Water Authority, overseeing Harris and Chambers counties, will receive $69 million to expand the East Surface Water Treatment Plant from six mgd to 12 mgd. To facilitate the increased capacity, the authority will install an intake screen, upsize and add pumps, add a ground storage tank, upgrade the chemical injection system and build a sludge lagoon for solids handling.
The Laguna Madre Water District will use $64.7 million to build a five mgd seawater reverse osmosis plant. Additional work will include building a seawater intake pump station structure and a connection to the existing wastewater treatment plant.
Photo by Steve Johnson from Pexels
