Texas approves $33M for water infrastructure projects

The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) has approved $33,370,000 in financial assistance for four water infrastructure projects.

TWDB provided the funds through state revolving funds as well as the Economically Distressed Areas Program. Three of the four funded projects also incorporate wastewater system improvements.

The approved funding was part of an announcement of $132 million for water and wastewater projects.

The funding for the water infrastructure projects is as follows:

• $24,000,000 to Maverick County for water and wastewater system improvements
  Maverick County is receiving $7,200,000 in financing and $16,800,000 in grant funding through EDAP for the planning, acquisition, design, and construction of a water and wastewater system project.
  The county will provide first-time wastewater service to the central area of the Quemado community. The county will also provide first-time water service to residences north of the existing Quemado water service area and to residences along Thompson Road north of the Elm Creek area. In addition, the County will replace 12 non-functioning meters in the Quemado area. 
• $4,600,000 to Presidio County for water and wastewater system improvements
  Presidio County is receiving $1,380,000 in financing and $3,220,000 in grant funding through EDAP. The ccounty will use the financial assistance for the planning, acquisition, design, and construction of a water and wastewater system project.
  The county will rehabilitate or replace the existing clay sewer collection system in the Fort D.A. Russell area and extend the City of Marfa’s water and wastewater systems to provide first-time water and wastewater service to the East Heights area. This project also includes planning, acquisition, and design to identify the most cost-effective solutions to provide potable drinking water for the unincorporated areas of Las Pampas and Shafter.
• $3,819,000 to the Airline Improvement District for water and sewer service improvements
  The Airline Improvement District in Harris County is receiving $1,145,000 in financing and $2,674,000 in grant funding through EDAP. The district will use the financial assistance for the planning, acquisition, design, and construction of a water and sewer service project.
  The district previously received EDAP commitments in 2010 and 2014 that provided first-time water and sewer service to the north section of the district. With the latest financial assistance, the district will provide first-time water and sewer service to residents of the Lillja area. The new water and sewer systems will connect to the City of Houston’s existing systems and upon completion of construction, ownership of the assets will be transferred to the City of Houston.
• $960,000 to the Barksdale Water Supply Corporation (Edwards County) for water system improvements
  The Barksdale Water Supply Corporation in Edwards County is receiving $960,000 in principal forgiveness from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF). The corporation will use the assistance for the planning, acquisition, design, and construction of water system improvements.
  The corporation will increase water supply reliability by constructing a 0.144 million gallons-per-day water well, a 100 gallons-per-minute water pump, and 1,000 linear feet of water transmission and distribution lines. The corporation will also prepare an asset management plan.