Bastrop currently treats wastewater through conventional processes that rely on chemical treatment methods. City officials said a proposed VVater system would instead use electricity-based, chemical-free technology with a smaller environmental footprint and room for expansion. (Amanda Cutshall/Community Impact)
Bastrop officials are exploring a potential $5 million deal with VVater that could bring an innovative approach to how the city treats and reuses water.
“As a city, we have a responsibility to make sure our water infrastructure is ready for the growth that’s coming,” Mayor Ishmael Harris said. “I’ve spent over 20 years working in water and wastewater in Central Texas, and what cities are looking at today is very different from the way we’ve built systems in the past.”
Why it matters
Bastrop City Council on March 24 directed staff to begin contract negotiations with the Austin-based water treatment company.
If approved, city leaders said the deal could improve how Bastrop treats and reuses water while also keeping up with demand as the city grows.
VVater’s Farady Reactor uses electricity rather than conventional chemical treatment methods, according to the company. (Courtesy VVater)
“This water can be used for industry or sold to neighboring jurisdictions in need of water,” City Manager Sylvia Carrillo-Trevino said. “During times of extreme need, it can also be used as a drinking water source; however, that is not the city’s intended use at this time.”
What they offer
The Austin-based water treatment company said in an April 30 news release that its Farady Reactor uses chemical-free, electricity-based water treatment technology that is intended to deliver cleaner water with a smaller environmental footprint and more options for long-term growth.
How we got here
Wastewater Treatment Plant No. 3 will soon become obsolete as the facility needs retrofitting to meet the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s new standards involving phosphorus levels and discharge into the Colorado River.
What's next?
Danielle King, a spokesperson for VVater, told Community Impact the company is collaborating with engineering firms for the design and engineering phase.
Per the March 24 resolution, city staff must return to council with a detailed cost analysis, bond financing options and any proposed final agreements; however, officials were unable to provide an estimate on when that may happen.
