AUSTIN, TX — Austin Water shared its long-term plans for several facilities which include significant upgrades aiming to enhance water flow and quality across the city. The improvements will affect the Handcox, Davis, Ullrich, Walnut Creek, South Austin, and Hornsby Bend plants.

“We’re working to try to maintain something and keep it going and keep it functioning,” said Melvin Frasier Jr., facilities process manager at Austin Water.

One of the most ambitious projects is the expansion of the Walnut Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant, which will increase its treatment capacity from 75 million gallons per day to 100 million gallons per day.

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“This construction schedule will take over six years to get this done,” said Charles Celauro, assistant director of Austin Water. He described the project as “a generational investment for the city of Austin” and noted that it will be the largest wastewater treatment plant Envision-rated project in the United States upon completion.

That’s not all for that facility. Celauro announced a plan to switch to Ultraviolet treatment of the water over chlorine gas, “so it will be a safer technology to use.”

The Davis Water Treatment Plant will also see significant upgrades, including the construction of a tunnel 60 feet underground to transport treated potable water.

District 10 City Councilmember Marc Duchen raised questions about mitigation impacts, to which Shay Ralls Roalson, director of Austin Water, responded, “We are looking at options on the site and off site to be able to make that connection in a way that minimizes the impacts to the neighbors.”

Funding for these projects may be supported by federal loans, covering up to 49 percent of construction costs.

“We can have loans up to 49 percent of the construction projects. So we’re very excited about that,” Celauro said. However, he acknowledged that inflationary costs have impacted maintenance and operation expenses.

Austin Water is collaborating with a contractor to explore the best options moving forward.