Zooming in
The project will replace 4.5 miles of waterline infrastructure throughout the city that has reached, or is nearing, the end of its useful service life, as well as replacing valves and fire hydrants, according to a June 2 Bellaire City Council agenda item.
The funding comes from the Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023 Consolidated Appropriation Act, where members of Congress are allowed to request funding for projects in their communities, with the Bellaire waterline infrastructure project being one of them, according to previous Community Impact reporting. The city was awarded $782,000 and $2.4 million in 2022 and 2023, with the EPA administering the federal funding.
According to the grant agreement, the expected outcome for the project includes:
- Reduction in water loss due to leaks
- Enhanced water quality
- Increased system reliability
- Improved emergency response capability
- Reduced environmental impact
- Compliance with federal regulations
The project period is from Feb. 1, 2025 to Dec. 31, 2026, but a start date is unknown at the moment, according to the grant agreement. The project is fully designed, with the next phase of the project including finalizing the bid project and bidding the project out for construction, according to the agenda item.
What they’re saying
Council member Ross Gordon thanked United States Representative Lizzie Fletcher for the appropriation request and to provide the city the representation and advocacy to get federal funding like this.
“We are getting $3 million of federal funds here, which is a huge, huge deal,” Gordon said. “Thank you staff for working through all the issues, and thank you Representative Fletcher for being our champion on this.”
