College Station approves $28.6M water well project

College Station City Council approved a nearly $29 million water infrastructure project at its March 26 meeting.

The council unanimously approved a guaranteed maximum price of $28.58 million for the Wells 10, 11 and 12 Project, which will add three new water wells along with piping, mechanical systems and collection lines.

About the project

City documents describe the project as an expansion of water production infrastructure within the city’s well field.

The wells project includes drilling three groundwater wells and constructing the infrastructure needed to bring the water into the city’s distribution system.

These wells will be built to pump up to 3,300 gallons of water per minute each, according to city documents. About 12,000 linear feet of pipeline will connect the wells to an existing tie-in point along Sandy Point Road. The city is coordinating with local and regional services on this project, including the Texas Department of Transportation.

The approved price includes roughly $700,000 in contingency funding for unexpected construction costs.

What council is saying

During the council discussion, Mayor John Nichols asked whether the site could appropriately support the three wells under groundwater district standards. Jennifer Cain, director of capital projects for the city, confirmed the acreage meets requirements and is suitable for development.

Council member Bob Yancy asked whether approving the contract locked the city into building all three wells at this price. City Manager Bryan Woods explained that while adjustments could technically be made later, the vote did represent a commitment to the project.

Measuring the impact

As Brazos County continues to grow, the new wells will help ensure water needs are being met. Recent census data suggests Aggieland has grown by almost 20,000 residents since 2020.

Brazos County received its annual update from the Brazos Valley Groundwater Conservation District at a March 24 Commissioners Court meeting. The general manager of Brazos Valley GCD outlined how local aquifers are being monitored and managed over the next several decades.

The project will be funded through future debt issuance. The wells project is a contract with Garney Construction.

Also on the agenda

While the water project dominated the regular agenda, council members also approved several development and housing items, including:

• Rezoning requests: The council approved two rezoning requests at Turkey Creek Road and Texas Avenue.
  • About 7 acres at Turkey Creek Road will be rezoned from neighborhood residential to urban residential, allowing a higher-density housing development.
  • A 1.24-acre property at 200 Texas Ave., the former Applebee’s, will be rezoned to a planned mixed-use district. Representatives confirmed plans for a new Hampton Inn at the location.
• Affordable housing amendments: The council also approved adjustments to expanding local housing programs and funding allocation adjustments. Community Impact will further explain these items in a future article.
  • $485,000 directed toward rental housing rehabilitation projects
  • $340,000 allocated to help eligible buyers purchase and renovate homes
• Financial report accepted: The city’s 2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report was accepted. The audit found no material weaknesses.
• Public comments: Three speakers addressed non-agenda items, two of whom raised concerns about the city’s use of Flock Safety cameras. One resident requested reconsideration of dog park space at the future Texas Independence Park in Midtown.