HUTTO – The city of Hutto has received a notice of eligibility from the United States Department of Interior – Bureau of Reclamation to compete for up to $30 million in grant money in support of the South Wastewater Treatment Plant project. City Engineer Matt Rector presented the news to the Hutto City Council at their Dec. 7 meeting, and received approval from Council to proceed with the grant request.
Rector worked with the city’s engineering consultants, Garver USA, on the grant. The funds are awarded through a comparative evaluation process based on the application responses.
“This is a WaterSMART grant opportunity through the Bureau of Reclamation because we do have a water reclamation portion that’s associated with the wastewater treatment plant upgrades, so this is basically us agreeing to follow certain basic procurement requirements. door for potentially up to $30 million in grant funds for helping us pay for that project,” Rector said.
The city’s current wastewater plant was constructed in 2017. The proposed reclaimed water facility is anticipated to be completed in July 2026. The total projected cost of the new plant is $198,601,695. If granted, the $30 million in federal money would represent a cost share of 15%.
The project is a phased, multi-year program that will reach an ultimate capacity of 15.5 MGD by 2039. Operations and maintenance costs are estimated at $3,030,086 annually.
Rector said Garver brought notice of the grant opportunity to his attention, and helped complete the required paperwork. Rector submitted the preliminary feasibility study and received a Notice of Funding Opportunity, confirming the project is eligible for consideration for the award. As part of the final application, the city has to agree to certain stipulations via a resolution, which was presented and approved at the meeting.
Council member Brian Thompson commended Rector on his initiative with the grant.
“We constantly harp on the issues that are looming and it’s often presented without solutions to the problems, so I appreciate going in trying to find solutions to mitigate potential price hikes in water and wastewater,” Thompson said.
Mayor Pro Tem Peter Gordon concurred, and lauded Garver for their role.
“Not only could it help offset the cost of our $180 million wastewater treatment plant project, but it could also help alleviate some of our water concerns by being able to use water creatively in other ways. I’m also glad to hear where it came from, that Garver stepped up for this.”
According to the Bureau of Reclamation, WaterSMART grants are meant to encourage projects, which conserve and use water more efficiently, increase the production of renewable energy and accomplish other benefits that contribute to sustainability in the Western United States.
The application asks questions including whether the project strengthens water supply sustainability in the face of climate change, whether it will enhance water security during a drought, and what the environmental impacts of the project will be.
“By diversifying the water supply with reclaimed water and reducing the reliance on groundwater sources, the project enhances the city’s ability to adapt to changing climate conditions, including prolonged droughts and increased water demand during extreme weather events,” was one partial response on the lengthy document.
The engineers also outlined Hutto’s booming industrial base as being part of the growing water demand, and discussed that using reclaimed, non-potable water for industrial purposes will further the goals of the Bureau of Reclamation and contribute to freshwater conservation.
