1. Tunnels complete for Lake Travis deep-water intake project
All underground concrete work on the Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority’s deep-water intake project is now complete, according to Aaron Archer, vice president of civil engineering firm Walker Partners.
Archer said it’s a significant milestone for the BCRUA. He gave updates on the project to the Leander City Council at its Dec. 18 meeting.
The BCRUA’s Raw Water Intake project will pump water from deep below the surface of Lake Travis to supply the BCRUA, a partnership between Leander, Cedar Park and Round Rock, with a stable source of water year-round.
Archer said that the mining and concrete lining of the tunnels, shaft and suction chamber are complete.
He also said that construction of the pump station building, where water will be brought up from the underground tunnels, has begun.
The intake maintenance building is also under construction.
Once completed, the BCRUA’s Raw Water Intake project will be able to pump 145 million gallons of water from the lake per day.
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2. Work progressing on regional water treatment plant in Cedar Park
One set of improvements at the Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority water treatment plant has been completed.
Archer said that portion of the project, dubbed Phase 1D, was substantially completed in November and will be officially completed in January.
Further expansions of the BCRUA water treatment plant, dubbed Phase 2A, began Dec. 15 and are expected to be completed in June 2028. That phase of the project will cost about $98 million. The contract was awarded to Webber Waterworks, a construction firm specializing in water infrastructure.
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3. Sandy Creek Water Treatment Plant upgrades to be completed in early 2026
Upgrades to the Sandy Creek Water Treatment Plant are on track to be completed in February, according to Gina Ellison, executive director of public works for the city of Leander.
In a presentation at the Leander City Council’s Dec. 18 meeting, Ellison said that construction is wrapping up. She said that training and testing of the upgraded facilities will be conducted in January, and the project will be finalized in February.
Ellison said the improvements included expanding the plant's sludge lagoons and upgrading its sludge management system, as well as constructing an additional water treatment unit.
Ellison said the upgrades will increase the plant’s treatment capacity from 9 million-10 million gallons per day to 12 million gallons per day.
“This is a big one,” Ellison said. “It’s been a lot of years in the making.”
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4. Williamson County forms coalition of regional water providers
The Williamson County Water Group is bringing together local water providers to explore long-term water supply solutions, including an engineering study that will evaluate regional water needs.
County commissioners approved $500,000 for the study at their Nov. 25 meeting.
“I think there's a lot of angst and fear as we grow. ... Step one is protecting what we have for the people who are here today, and then step two is that sustainable growth,” County Judge Steven Snell said.
Georgetown Water Utilities Director Chelsea Solomon said the coalition could allow cities and water suppliers to jointly fund new water sources and the infrastructure needed to transport them, while also partnering to use existing pipelines and easements more efficiently.
Although the county is not a water provider, officials hope to guide cities and utilities in coordinating water procurement, infrastructure planning and conservation efforts through the new study and coalition, Snell said at a Nov. 25 press conference.
The newly formed Williamson County Water Group includes representatives from the county and major water providers:
- Cedar Park
- Leander
- Round Rock
- Georgetown
- Brazos River Authority
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