Government
BY BRITTANY ANDERSON
Water treatment capacity expanded
Moving forward
Two water treatment projects—the North Lake Water Treatment Plant expansion and Southside Water Treatment Plant rehabilitation—came online this spring. The upgrades come as water usage and conservation efforts continue to be key topics for the city, Mayor Josh Schroeder said in the annual State of the City address. Per Georgetown officials, the Southside Water Treatment Plant rehabilitation added 3.6 million gallons per day to the city’s water capacity system, and the North Lake Water Treatment Plant expansion added 8.8 MGD. These projects, combined with 9 MGD contracted from other cities, brought the city’s production capacity to 49.9 MGD. According to Georgetown officials, an average of 42.8 MGD are used during peak season. During the nonpeak season, water usage averages 17.63 MGD.
Expansions over time
Officials said the first phase of another project, the South Lake Water Treatment Plant, is set to come online in late 2025 and expand capacity by another 22 MGD. Its second phase will up capacity once again by 22 MGD when it comes online in 2026, bringing the city’s overall owned capacity to 93.9 MGD. Still, Schroeder said the city is looking at ways to conserve water, including through retreating wastewater to make it safe; using gray water, or wastewater from washing machines, showers and sinks, for irrigation; and allowing xeriscaping, or landscaping that requires little water. “One of the things that we are shouting from the rooftops is the way water is used, at least in Central Texas, is about to change forever,” Schroeder said.
Contracted water: 9 MGD Existing city-owned capacity: 28.5 MGD
Southside rehabilitation: 3.6 MGD North Lake expansion: 8.8 MGD
93.9 MGD
South Lake Phase 2: 22 MGD South Lake Phase 1: 22 MGD
49.9 MGD
Peak usage: 42.8 MGD
37.5 MGD
Nonpeak usage: 17.63 MGD
Current capacity*
Future capacity
Former capacity
*AS OF SPRING 2024
SOURCE: CITY OF GEORGETOWN/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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GEORGETOWN EDITION
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