Government
BY ANNA MANESS
City’s $1.96B utilities plan
The details
Systems Engineering Director Wesley Wright said the last three fiscal year estimates are “light.” He said there will likely be increases to impact fees, or a payment property developers make, going forward. A future $343 million Three Forks water recla- mation facility—similar to a wastewater treatment plant—near FM 971 is under design, according to city documents. Its first phase should supply the city with wastewater services through 2030 with its capacity to treat 7 million gallons per day, Wright said. Additional phases could take the Three Forks facility to 17 MGD by 2040, and it’s ultimately permitted for 22 MGD, according to Wright’s presentation. Construction for a package plant is set to begin this year. An anticipated $94 million Northlands water reclamation facility near Ronald Reagan Boulevard and Sun City Boulevard is also under design. The Northlands facility is set to begin construc- tion in FY 2026-27, according to the presentation. Wright said staff is considering whether the Northlands facility should begin as a 1.5 MGD plant or a 3 MGD plant.
A
35
195
On April 22, Georgetown officials discussed a $1.96 billion five-year capital improvement plan, or CIP, for water and wastewater projects during a workshop meeting. Proposed water and wastewater projects for fiscal year 2025-26 alone could reach $483.1 million, and other future expenses will go toward operations, designing and constructing new plants, and replacing old infrastructure. City Manager David Morgan said projects, though costly, will have a large impact over the next several decades on the city’s water and wastewater systems.
RONALD REAGAN BLVD.
B
130
971
N
B Three Forks Wastewater Treatment Plant A Northlands water reclamation facility
“The cost is significant,” Wright said. “That’s a $100 million decision, but we’re trying to stay ahead of it.” Mayor Pro Tem Kevin Pitts said he’s concerned about the city’s utility and infrastructure capabilities in north Georgetown as development proposals rise due to the amount of undeveloped land in the area. “We’re just going to see more and more pressure for development over there, and we’re not going to have the utilities,” Pitts said.
The nearly $2 billion current five-year water and wastewater CIP can be broken down as follows:
$1.2B
$1B
$600M $400M $200M $800M
$35M $30M $25M $15M $20M $10M
What else
$5M $0
MGD of additional treated water capacity. Phase 2 will open in September and with 22 MGD online, Wright said.
Mayor Josh Schroeder said having wastewater services gives the city more leverage in negotiations with developers. The South Lake Water Treatment Plant Phase 1 will come online June 2, with 22
*ESTIMATES DO NOT INCLUDE ALL COSTS AND WILL LIKELY INCREASE
SOURCE: CITY OF GEORGETOWN/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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