HUTTO – Officials Tuesday celebrated the groundbreaking for a high-tech wastewater treatment facility that has been more than a year in the design and approval stages, officials said.
The city broke ground on Hutto’s $180 million South Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion, a project that will increase the existing site’s capacity from 2.6 million gallons per day to 6 million gallons per day.
“Some of the best infrastructure is the kind you never really see or think about and that’s exactly what we’re here to celebrate today,” said City Manager James Earp. “Whenever you’re at home and you just flip a switch and your lights come on or the water runs or your toilet flushes, you don’t really think about those things specifically, but those are everyday conveniences that are made possible by incredible feats of engineering that somewhat we take for granted today.” “
The project will do more than just expand the city’s existing wastewater treatment capacity. It has been engineered to give the water a higher level of reuse.
A statement from the city said the expansion’s advanced technology will allow Hutto to treat wastewater to Type 1 reuse standards.
Type 1 reuse may be used for irrigation or fire protection, which will reduce Hutto’s potable drinking water demand.
Mayor Pro Tem Peter Gordon said the upgraded reuse level could allow the city to recoup some expenses, as the Type 1 water can be sold to construction crews or industrial users. He also said the increased capacity can help the city negotiate with developers to avoid the need for neighborhood wastewater treatment facilities or private “package plants.”
“This wastewater treatment plant is more than just an upgrade,” Gordon said. “It’s a promise to our citizens and businesses that we will continue to deliver the quality services that they expect and they deserve. By investing in this critical infrastructure, we’re not just supporting the daily needs of our residents, we’re also laying the needed groundwork for continued economic development.”
The city is working with engineering firm Garver USA and Archer Western Contractors to build the facility at 10710 FM 1660. Construction is expected to finish by Dec. 31, 2026.
Thor Benson, program manager with Archer Western, said his company built the original treatment plant in 2017 and they were happy to be chosen for the expansion.
“We’ve been working behind the scenes with the engineers and the city for about a year and a half. We’re getting our yard set up right now and we should be turning dirt here in about three weeks. To be able to come back and continue the legacy we’ve built is really special for us,” Benson said.
The project is expected to employ 150 to 200 people at the peak of construction. Benson said that while this was the biggest project the crew has worked on in this region to date, they have constructed much larger projects in other areas.
“The jobs are getting bigger and bigger. We’re seeing more and more in this size range, especially in this market,” he said.
Robert Boysen, technical lead engineer for Garver, said that in addition to the higherlevel reuse feature, the facility incorporates other best practices in construction and technology. One such feature is a process that removes algae-causing nutrients from the water to help protect the Brushy Creek and Brazos River environments.
“As the area grows, the impact on the area watersheds having all this wastewater discharged into the watersheds becomes more critical,” he said. “This plant has been designed with a lot more treatment than we would have done 10 years ago to help improve the environment around the community and make it better for citizens who are using those watersheds.”
He said in addition to being able to reuse the treated wastewater from the plant for agricultural irrigation or putting out blazes, with additional treatment the water could be brought up to potable standards and give the city the ability to manage the water supply during a drought.
Patricia Davis, capital improvement plan manager, said the event marked a milestone in the city’s history.
“It is truly a gamechanger for our residents and our community,” Davis added. “It represents not only a significant upgrade to our infrastructure but a commitment to our future. It is securing that we can meet the growing needs of our residents and businesses for many years to come.”
“ This wastewater treatment plant is more than just an upgrade.”
— Mayor Pro Tem Peter Gordon
