Photo Courtesy Austin WaterWater Treatment Plant 4 is expected to open in summer 2014.
On Dec. 6, Austin City Council approved a $15.5 million increase to the budget for Water Treatment Plant 4 to accommodate the remaining construction.
The increase brings the project cost to $524 million, up from $508 million, for the construction, design, land purchase, easement and permitting process. Austin Water Director Greg Meszaros said the final 4 percent of the project and the contingencies for unexpected costs are carrying the project over budget. However, he said the final project cost could be between $506 million and $512 million.
"We still may be at our total budget or slightly above," he said, because the city may not need to use all the contingencies or allowance budgets.
The plant, located at the southwest corner of Bullick Hollow Road and RM 620, will be able to treat 50 million gallons of water per day when it opens in summer 2014.
