Sugar Land Mayor James Thompson (left) and Director of Public Works Robert Valenzuela discuss the new reclaimed-water treatment facility located at the city’s south wastewater treatment plant.[/caption]

The city of Sugar Land completed construction of its reclaimed-water treatment facility located at the city’s south wastewater treatment plant in November.

“[The city’s] partnership with Fort Bend County Municipal Utility District 128 taps an unutilized water source for the benefit of the city and the MUD, paving the way for future innovative water resource-management projects,” said Doug Adolph, assistant communications director for Sugar Land.

The reclaimed-water treatment facility receives water from the wastewater plant and treats it to improve water quality for irrigation in public areas, Adolph said. MUD 128 will utilize up to 2 million gallons of treated wastewater for filling amenity lakes and irrigation within the Riverstone development. Pipes and irrigation components using reclaimed water are identified as nonpotable by the color purple and special signage, he said.

The facility’s design and construction was funded by MUD 128 and will be operated by the Brazos River Authority. The increased use of reclaimed water is a strategy identified by the city in its water master plan and also helps the city to meet the groundwater reduction requirements set by the Fort Bend Subsidence District.