New city water reclamation facility gets underway

At the Apr.16 Dripping Springs City Hall meeting, the DS City Council approved a Professional Service Agreement retaining Carollo Engineers, Inc. for engineering services which include planning, design, bid and construction phase services related to the expansion of the city’s existing Wastewater Treatment Facility in order to create a New Water Reclamation Facility (WRF Project).   

“The WRF Project, when complete, will consist of two treatment trains that achieve biological nutrient removal, with tertiary filtration, and chemical polishing for additional phosphorus removal, and ultra violet (UV) disinfection,” said the City Task Order for Carollo Engineers.  

At the DS City Council meeting, Deputy City Administrator Ginger Faught gave a brief summary of this project, in regard to the Texas Water Development Board loan agreement with the City for this south regional wastewater facilities expansion (WRF Project). She indicated that the complex project is progressing smoothly, step-by-step.

The City received a Resolution from TWDB approving their application for financial assistance for a total of $44,395,000, a multi-year commitment from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. TWDB will purchase $43,395,000 of the City of Dripping Springs and Texas Combination Tax and Surplus Revenue Certificates of Obligation, Series 2019 through 2021:

Series 2019 - $23,500,000

Series 2020 - $9,500,000

Series 2021 - $10,395,000 

There will also be an award of $1,000,000 in principal forgiveness to the City.

The WRF Project will provide the needed capacity to meet the projected population growth. The City has planned for its growth with an assessment of its impact. With its ad valorem taxes and surplus revenues to fund the loan, the City’s payment capacity is adequate, but will necessitate increases in its combined tax and utility rates. Yet because the city is strong economically, the high population growth, and cash reserves partially mitigate this factor. The City’s repayment capacity will be evaluated prior to the closing of each funding series.

There are no known environmental, social, or permitting issues, that would preclude completion of the WRF Project. But because the proposed components of the project are numerous and spread throughout a large area, separate environmental reviews will be phased into the plan as the project proceeds.