Brushy Creek Regional Waste Water System
The Round Rock City Council approved the replacement of a return-activated sludge pump that has exceeded its useful life. City documents state these pumps are integral to the treatment of waste water and contain a supply of oxygen that maintains aerobic conditions to keep activated sludge suspended. The $79,400 to replace the pump will be paid out of the city's regional wastewater operating fund.Council members also voted to approve additional filters, known as tertiary filters, to be added on to the expansion of the BCRWWS East Waste Water Treatment Plant, to address treatment process issues that have persisted since the February 2021 winter storm. City documents state these issues have been compounded by the ongoing expansion of the treatment plant as well as instances of hydraulic overload, producing discharge into Brushy Creek downstream of the plant that was not in compliance with permits from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The permits for the plant will expire in 2023, and BCRWWS partner cities Austin, Cedar Park, Leander and Round Rock will apply for a renewal in November, according to city filings, with the possibility of seeing more stringent parameters for the quality of treated effluent discharge. These filters will assist in achieving higher-quality effluent, Round Rock Utilities Director Michael Thane told the council Sept. 8.
The portion of the cost for the additional filters to be paid by Round Rock is $506,672 and will be paid from its regional wastewater project fund. Plummer Associates won the contract.
Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority
An underwater pipeline leak repair was unanimously approved by the council as well. This section of pipe was previously repaired in 2021, and it is unclear what caused the secondary leak, according to city documents. The $427,164.95 repair will see a 36-inch iron pipeline on the bed of Lake Travis stabilized and given additional flexibility using ball joints. The contract awarded to Thalle Construction Co. will be paid from the city's regional water fund.