Georgetown - Edition | June 2022

UTILITIES New water treatment plant to double city’s production capacity

BY HUNTER TERRELL

the North Lake Treatment Plant, the city hopes to produce 93.9 mgd in the next decade. Additionally the city currently contracts with other water producers for up to 10 mgd and is looking to contract for another 31 mgd. The new plant will be located on the south side of Lake Georgetown at 1010 Crockett Gardens Road, near

In order to keep up with the city’s growing population, Georgetown broke ground on a new water treatment plant May 10. The South Lake Water Treatment Plant will double the treatment capacity of the water utility. Construction is expected to be completed in two phases from 2025- 26, according to the city. “With more

City of Georgetown, PLW Waterworks, CDM Smith and other ocials broke ground on the new South Lake water plant May 10. (Hunter Terrell/Community Impact Newspaper)

YEARTOYEAR MEASUREMENT The city of Georgetown is rapidly expanding. Data provided by the Georgetown Water Department shows how many connections, both residential and commercial, have been added each year. Water connections added 60K +4,787

Cedar Breaks Park. The city purchased the 18.5-acre site in 2020 and began design work in 2021. The site will not only include the water treat- ment facility, but also a raw-water

“IN DOUBLING THE TREATMENT CAPACITY OF OUR WATER UTILITY WITH THIS PLANT, WE WILL BE READY TO SERVE THE WATER NEEDS OF OUR GROWING CITY.” JOSH SCHROEDER, MAYOR

than 5,000 new residents coming to Georgetown last year, the demand for water continues to increase rap- idly,” Mayor Josh Schroeder said

+4,375

+3,313

50K

+2,228

40K

at the ground-breaking ceremony. “In doubling the treatment capacity of our water utility with this plant, we will be ready to serve the water needs of our growing city.” In December, the Georgetown Water Department reported that the city added 4,787 new connec- tions in 2021. This represents a 114.86% increase from the number of new meters added in 2018. As of 2021, Georgetown has a total of 53,185 residential and commercial meters—10,000 more than the city had in 2018. Oficials said this expansion will help the city’s water department fulill its mission of providing essential water services to all residents. “We made the decision to build a second water treatment facility— doubling our total, daily capacity to 88 million gallons—because it is the most responsible choice for our projected growth,” Director of Water Utilities Chelsea Solomon said. Georgetown produces 39.6 million gallons of water per day, or mgd, at city-owned assets. Once completed, the new water treat- ment plant will have the capacity to produce 44 mgd, making it the largest of Georgetown’s facilities. With more expansions in the works, including an expansion at

intake location on Lake George- town; a raw-water transmission line; and an administration building that will house a secondary control center, control labs and ofice space. PLW Waterworks was awarded the construction contract for the plant. According to PLW Waterworks, the South Lake plant is the largest project in the water infrastructure construction management irm’s history. CDM Smith is the design engineer for the new plant. The estimated contract cost is $175.3 million, which will be funded by various sources, including regulated customer water rates, impact fees developers pay to install new meters and lines, and 30-year revenue bonds—which the city issues to fund a variety of major capital projects.

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WATER CAPACITY There are several water treatment facilities already in Georgetown and several expansion projects underway. Combined, Georgetown could have water capacity of 134.9 million gallons per day by 2040. Future water capacity Current water capacity

UPCOMING EXPANSIONS Domel: 1.5 mgd North Lake: 8.8 mgd

South Lake Phase 1: 22 mgd South Lake Phase 2: 22 mgd

POTENTIAL CONTRACTED WATER Round Rock Rabbit Hill: 3 mgd Round Rock CR 175: 3 mgd Future opportunities: 25 mgd

CONFIRMED CONTRACTED WATER Round Rock Highlands: 1 mgd Leander: 3 mgd Round Rock Rabbit Hill: 3 mgd (as needed) Round Rock CR 175: 3 mgd

NORTH FORK SAN GABRIEL RIVER

CEDAR BREAKS PARK

THE SOUTH LAKE WATER TREATMENT PLANT

EXISTING CITY-OWNED FACILITIES Domel: 1.5 mgd

South Side: 3.2 mgd Park Plant: 6.3 mgd North Lake: 28.6 mgd

SOURCE: CITY OF GEORGETOWNCOMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER

GEORGETOWN EDITION • JUNE 2022