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On April 22, Georgetown officials discussed a $1.96 billion five-year capital improvement plan for water and wastewater projects during a workshop meeting.
What you need to know
Proposed water and wastewater projects for fiscal year 2025-26 alone could reach $483.1 million, and other future expenses will go toward operations, designing and constructing new plants, and replacing old infrastructure.
“To say this is very lumpy is a major understatement,” City Manager David Morgan said.
Morgan said projects, though costly, will have a large impact over the next several decades on the city’s water and wastewater systems.
Systems Engineering Director Wesley Wright discussed the ongoing and upcoming projects with council members. According to his presentation, the nearly $2 billion current five-year water and wastewater CIP can be broken down as follows:
Morgan said city staff will come back with more information on growth projections and capital costs.
What’s happening?
A future $343 million Three Forks water reclamation facility—similar to a wastewater treatment plant—near FM 971 is under design, according to city documents. Its first phase should supply the city with wastewater services through 2030 with its capacity to treat 7 million gallons per day, Wright said.
Additional phases could take the Three Forks facility to 17 MGD by 2040, and it’s ultimately permitted for 22 MGD, according to Wright’s presentation. Construction for a package plant is set to begin this year, and the remainder of the plant will begin construction in FY 2026-27.
A closer look
An anticipated $94 million Northlands water reclamation facility near Ronald Reagan Boulevard and Sun City Boulevard is also under design. Wright said the city has received several development proposals in the area, including ones from Atkinson Ranch and Heirloom Georgetown.
Although a temporary package plant in the area was previously discussed during council workshops with home developers, Wright said he doesn’t think one is necessary since the area’s existing wastewater system can handle 6,000-9,000 additional units.
“We don’t project that area hitting 6,000-9,000 additional units until early 2030s,” Wright said. “We think we can have this plant online by then.”
The Northlands facility is set to begin construction in FY 2026-27, according to the presentation.
The discussion
Wright said staff is considering whether the Northlands facility should begin as a 1.5 MGD plant or a 3 MGD plant.
“The cost is significant,” Wright said. “That's a $100 million decision, but we're trying to stay ahead of it.”
Mayor Pro Tem Kevin Pitts said he’s concerned about the city's utility and infrastructure capabilities north Georgetown as development proposals rise.
“We're just going to see more and more pressure for development over there, and we're not going to have the utilities,” Pitts said. “With large tracts of land undeveloped out there, there's a lot of opportunity that I could see people trying to go after.”
Mayor Josh Schroeder said having wastewater services gives the city more leverage in negotiations with developers. Schroeder agreed with Pitts that the area will see rapid growth.
“By the time we finish the 1.5 [MGD], we're going to need the 3,” Schroeder said. “I think we just move in that direction.”
Also of note
Officials also revisited several FY 2024-25 water and wastewater projects during the workshop, including the South Lake Water Treatment Plant with Phase 1 coming online June 2, bringing 22 MGD of additional treated water capacity to the city, Wright said.
Phase 2 of the South Lake WTP will open in September and bring another 22 MGD online, Wright said.
Did you know?
A full list of the city’s proposed, active and completed water and wastewater projects can be viewed here.
