Bastrop City Council to discuss $5M water treatment technology

Carrillo-Trevino emphasized that this course of action has the best return on investment.

“This water can be used for industry or sold to neighboring jurisdictions in need of water,” she 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.”

Some context

Wastewater Treatment plants No. 1 and No. 2 are offline during construction, and flows are being redirected to Wastewater Treatment Plant No. 3 at 384 SH 304, Bastrop—a facility that came online May 7, 2024.

Rehabilitation of Wastewater Treatment plants No. 1 and No. 2 began in September and has a scheduled completion date of July 23, 2026. The project is being financed with approximately $2.3 million in funding through the American Rescue Plan Act grant fund and $112,699 through the city’s Wastewater Capital Improvement Plan fund, according to city documents.

Also of note

Carrillo-Trevino previously questioned the TCEQ’s decision to roll out new phosphorus level readings and discharge into the Colorado River requirements without notifying the city during the design of Wastewater Treatment Plant No. 3.

“Is that bad planning? I don't know, but shame on the state for not letting us know something's coming down the pipe so that we can at least plan for it as we're in the planning stages,” she said during her State of the City address last September.

The outlook

If the city enters negotiations with VVater, the water treatment technology provider, for the $5 million Faraday Reactor, Bastrop city staff will present cost and bond information for possible action at an April 10 meeting, according to city documents.