SPI Insights

Members of the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) will consider requests for several multi-million dollar loans to finance water and wastewater projects at their October 3 board meeting.

The city of Austin is seeking a $67.83 million loan from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund for construction of water system improvements at its North Austin Reservoir and Ullrich Pump Station that are at the end of their useful lives.

Staff members are planning to decommission the reservoir’s existing infrastructure and construct a new facility that will include a new 8 million-gallon ground storage tank and pump station. A new electrical building would be built at the pump station site.

Austin officials also are seeking a $53 million loan from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to make improvements to its Walnut Creek and South Austin Regional wastewater treatment plants, which they stated have reached end of life. Upgrades to the two facilities will improve system efficiency and reliability and reduce maintenance costs.

The city is proposing to upgrade the existing sludge thickener at the Walnut Creek plant and replace an electrical substation at South Austin Regional.

San Angelo leaders are requesting a $65.75 million loan from TWDB for the expansion of the city’s groundwater supply at the Hickory Aquifer by upgrading multiple locations, including construction of five new wells at its wellfield. Improvements to its raw water collection system, transmission line, and Ground Water Treatment Plant also are planned.