Texas Water Board to finance water projects

The Texas Water Development Board (TWBD) has approved financial assistance totalling nearly $158m for water and wastewater projects in the state.

Houston will be given a $55m loan from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to finance the rehabilitation of approximately 650,000ft of sanitary sewer pipe. This will help the city to meet its goal of renewing at least 600,000ft per year to reduce sanitary sewer overflows.

The city will also replace 50,000 obsolete meters and install an automatic meter reading programme. It will also be given approximately $71 million, with $174,904 in loan forgiveness from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to finance water system improvements.

Dell City in Hudspeth County will receive $191,223, consisting of a $75,000 loan and $116,223 in loan forgiveness from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to finance wastewater system improvements.

TWDB will also provide approximately $30 million to McAllen in Hidalgo County with $202,322 in loan forgiveness from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to finance wastewater system improvements.

Of the total funding, $2m was earmarked for rural water projects. The Angelina & Neches River Authority in Angelina County will receive $674,013 consisting of a $205,000 loan and $469,013 in loan forgiveness from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, to finance wastewater system improvements.

Pleasant Springs Water Supply Corporation (Anderson County) will receive $1.14m for an additional water well, and storage capacity for the existing system. The project will provide the rural community with a 300 gallon per minute water well and a 100,000 gallon storage tank to greatly improve access to available water.