The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) announced that it has approved $1,593,374,996 in financial assistance for 10 water, wastewater, and flood projects.
Of the announced funding, at least $1.54 billion will support eight drinking water infrastructure projects.
The funding comes through the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT), the Flood Infrastructure fund, and state revolving funds.
The 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.
The SWIFT program includes two funds, the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT) and the State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas (SWIRFT). Revenue bonds for the program are issued through SWIRFT.
The 10 funded infrastructure projects are as follows:
- $729,990,000 to the North Harris County Regional Water Authority for a water system project
The authority will use the assistance for the planning, acquisition, design, and construction of a water system project. The authority will construct new water distribution lines to provide treated surface water to numerous entities. This fifth phase will consist of approximately 79 miles of pipelines that will range from 12 to 66-inches in diameter. The new pipelines include the Hardy Road Line and significant expansion into the eastern portions of the authority’s service area east of Hardy Road, as well as distribution piping west of Telge Road in the Authority’s western service area.
- $532,390,000 to the North Texas Municipal Water District for a water treatment plant expansion and system improvements
The District will use the assistance for the acquisition and construction of a drinking water treatment plant expansion and system improvements project. The district will expand the capacity of the raw water pump station at Bois d’Arc Lake Dam and the Leonard Water Treatment Plant to meet projected water needs. The improvements will enhance redundancy, reliability, and operational flexibility of the pump station and water treatment plant.
- $117,040,000 to the Upper Trinity Regional Water District for a water supply and pipeline project
The funding consists of two parts: $76,255,000 in multi-year Board Participation financing for the design and construction of a water supply project, and $40,785,000 in multi-year Board Participation financing for the planning, acquisition, design, and construction of a water pipeline project.
The district plans to design and construct a 15 million-gallons-per-day expansion to the Taylor Wastewater Treatment Plant to increase the capacity and efficiency of operations. Additionally, the district will expand the Regional Treated Water System Northeast Transmission Pipeline to reach the City of Aubrey and connect the district’s northern service area to the Harpool Water Treatment Plant.
- $98,055,000 to the Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority for a water supply project
The TWDB has previously committed $409,155,000 through the Texas Water Development Fund and the SWIFT program to finance the planning, acquisition, design, and construction of a regional project to address current and projected water supply needs. With the latest assistance, the authority will complete the construction of Phase 1D and Phase 2, which includes a new deep-water intake and pump station and expansion of the water treatment plant to accommodate increased supply.
- $50,000,000 to the Brazos River Authority for acquisition of land and water rights permits
The authority will fund the reimbursement of land and permitting costs for an off-channel reservoir in Austin County that will provide an estimated 99,650 acre-feet per year firm yield for municipal, industrial, and irrigation purposes.
- $45,000,000 to the City of Irving for a flood management project
The city will construct a flood management project in the West Irving Creek watershed that will expand detention facilities, including two new debris and sedimentation ponds, six new bridge structures, and approximately 20,000 linear feet of improved channels.
- $12,000,000 to the Palo Pinto County Municipal Water District No. 1 for a water supply project
The TWDB previously committed $25,100,000 to finance planning, acquisition, and design of the Turkey Peak Reservoir project, which will increase the district’s water storage capacity to provide greater reliability and drought resiliency. With the latest assistance, the district will complete all land acquisition and final design work.
- $5,000,000 to the Central Harris County Regional Water Authority for a water system project
The authority will use the assistance for the acquisition and construction of a new water system project. The authority will expand the internal water distribution system, which will provide treated surface water to its member districts’ water plants as required to meet groundwater reduction plan mandates.
- $3,599,996 to the Northgate Crossing Municipal Utility District No. 2 for a reclaimed water project
The district will use the assistance to finance the planning, acquisition, design, and construction of a reclaimed water project. The District will construct a regional wastewater treatment plant reclaimed water system to minimize the amount of groundwater used for irrigation.
- $300,000 to the Oak Grove Water Supply Corporation for participation in a new regional water system
The corporation is a member of the Riverbend Water Resources District. With this financial assistance, the corporation will fund its participation in the Riverbend Water Resources District’s new regional water system project to meet growing water demands.
