Texas approves $19.9M for wastewater improvement projects

The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) announced that it has approved $19.9 million in financial assistance for wastewater improvement projects.

TWDB is the state agency charged with collecting and disseminating water-related data, assisting with regional water and flood planning, and preparing the state water and flood plans. TWDB administers cost-effective financial assistance programs for the construction of water supply, wastewater treatment, flood control, and agricultural water conservation projects.

The funded wastewater projects are as follows:

• $7,145,000 to the Greater Texoma Utility Authority on behalf of the City of Whitewright
  The city will use the assistance for the planning, design, and construction of wastewater treatment plant improvements. The city will construct a new wastewater treatment plant outside the 100-year floodplain. The project improvements will include a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system and modernized treatment facilities.
  The wastewater improvement funding consists of $6,645,000 in financing and $500,000 in principal forgiveness from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF). In addition to the loan forgiveness, the City could save approximately $3,300,000 over the life of the loan by using the CWSRF.

• $3,770,000 to the Northwest Harris County Municipal Utility District No. 22
  The district will use the assistance for the planning, acquisition, design, and construction of water and wastewater system improvements.
  In 2015, the district used Clean Water State Revolving Funds for its portion of a wastewater treatment plant upgrade project, which it co-owns with Northwest Harris County MUD Nos. 21 and 23. Costs have exceeded the original budget, and the district will use a portion of the financial assistance approved today to complete its share of the project.
  Additionally, the District will construct a new water well, provide an emergency generator at its sanitary lift station, and expand and upgrade the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition and surveillance systems for the water and wastewater utilities.

• $3,000,000 to the Memorial Point Utility District
  The district will use the assistance for the planning, design, and construction of water and wastewater system improvements.
  The district will replace approximately 8,000 linear feet of aging water line; install new gate valves, meters, and fire hydrants; and repair approximately 7,500 linear feet of sewer lines. Other improvements include cleaning and inspection of the existing sewers, rehabilitation of utility maintenance holes, and reconnection of sewer taps.

• $6,075,000 to the City of Primera
  The city will use the assistance for the planning, design, and construction of a wastewater collection system improvement project. The city will rehabilitate the wastewater collection system’s lift stations, including evaluating and replacing pumps, repairing wet wells and piping, and providing emergency generators and adequate electrical service to the lift stations.
  The project also includes the development of an asset management plan and extending the collection system to provide first-time sewer service to five areas within the city limits.