[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6579144,"mediaKeyId","3100373-68ecc6020040307bc81420a4876fd32d","parentId",3100373,"title","Austin Water seeks variances and code amendments to expand Walnut Creek wastewater plant to 100 million gallons per day","audioSeconds",1177,"startMs",300000,"endMs",1477000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3100373-68ecc6020040307bc81420a4876fd32d&start=300&end=1477","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3100373-68ecc6020040307bc81420a4876fd32d/thumbnail_300000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6579144/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/Austin-Water-seeks-variances-and-code-amendments-to-expand-Walnut-Creek-wastewater-plant-to-100-million-gallons-per-day","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6579144-f500873f51ec1d3bfddeba91af6f5dc6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770406497&Signature=FI0ZfX-lbo4chlxIpYD~OKm-WLHnwnwsoCUp2gJzjvwV~dj6ifVjsEl2gCdO2iCDzk-dqlsNf86dPF2yVZe6zuzZ4l6dzgNSoai9WpJrlgQ9AeA956O4ojkikeWhZta3HDRV9CxcxSDYf-ZrtcoWG28t3Rl5O~QgUS-EHNMf2rlXYY1Ya39pWLtbq2WGO~LQxjs-ucbr15f8q39yKE512OMoqJIPRQ6tf4EgzJFq0v5G-L5bYFqF97WWylBKKjznR17hVqNYtHBsfEyNr4-ZO83swdYeKzddlPlF6Rqk7X6smcl3VoR0X6wlROMR2liv6dQuqMhKuKGGI9s2CQIVGA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Austin","date","2025-04-23T00:00:00Z","article","Austin Water presented plans and a request for administrative variances to facilitate the expansion and enhancement of the Walnut Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant during a committee briefing. The utility said it plans to add 25 million gallons per day to increase the plant’s rated capacity from 75 million to 100 million gallons per day, convert the existing treatment process to biological nutrient removal, install ultraviolet disinfection, and construct a flood wall to protect the site from updated flood-plain modeling.

The project team described the expansion as a generational capital program, noting that the City Council previously approved design and construction contracts of roughly $1 billion for work at Walnut Creek. Austin Water said construction will be delivered in multiple packages using a construction-manager-at-risk (CMAR) model to allow earlier procurement of long-lead equipment and to coordinate complex sequencing needed to maintain continuous plant operations during construction.

Why it matters: Austin Water reported that plant flows exceeded 90% of treatment capacity for three months in 2024 (January, February and May), a level that the utility said triggers a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) requirement to begin construction. City staff warned that failing to expand while over capacity can expose the utility to enforcement and fines from TCEQ.

Key technical and environmental components described by Austin Water staff included:
- Capacity: add 25 million gallons per day to take the plant from 75 to 100 MGD.
- Treatment conversion: change from conventional activated sludge to biological nutrient removal (BNR). Staff estimated BNR would reduce phosphorus loading to the Colorado River by about 60%, from roughly 2,000 pounds per day under current conditions to an estimated 860 pounds per day (staff called the 860 figure a minimum estimate based on modeling).
- Disinfection: replace chemical disinfection with ultraviolet (UV) disinfection to reduce reliance on chemical reagents.
- Flood protection: build a flood wall around the plant footprint following updated Atlas 14 rainfall modeling; the plant sits in the 100-year floodplain.
- Odor control: install bio-trickling filters, activated carbon filters and basin covers with controlled venting.

Austin Water said the site already contains man-made berms and deep basins from earlier configurations that create the need for cuts and fills beyond usual thresholds. As part of the request, staff asked for administrative variances addressing construction on slopes, cuts and fills that exceed four feet, and for relief related to two heritage pecan trees on the site; staff said they propose to relocate those trees subject to an arborist feasibility study.

Staff also described a proposed adjustment to critical water quality zone boundaries tied to the flood wall and plant footprint; the presentation included mitigation commitments but offered inconsistent figures in the briefing transcript (staff at one point described a 150% mitigation parcel proposal and later referred to 50% mitigation). The project presentation said staff will work with city planners and watershed protection on mitigation and final designs.

Procurement and schedule: Austin Water said the CMAR contract (contractor named in presentation) is on board and that guaranteed maximum price (GMP) packages will be developed as design progresses; the utility stressed that long lead items may require ordering early to avoid supply-chain delays. Staff emphasized phasing to maintain the plant’s treatment capacity during construction, including building new capacity on-site before taking existing basins offline for conversion.

Regulatory context and next steps: staff reported the project has been before the Environmental Commission (April 2) and the Planning Commission (presentation the prior day). Austin Water said the project is scheduled for City Council consideration on May 22. The utility told the committee it will continue to coordinate with watershed protection, planning staff and city arborists as designs mature.

Questions from committee members focused on asset life cycles and maintenance of mechanical equipment (staff said concrete basins typically have a long life but mechanical components commonly require replacement on multi‑decadal cycles), reasons for using CMAR rather than design-bid-build (staff cited complex sequencing, need to maintain operations and to secure long-lead equipment), and community impacts during construction (site access, staging, truck routing and coordination with adjacent capital projects on MLK Boulevard).

What the presentation did not include: no formal vote was taken during the briefing. The project team discussed seeking administrative variances and code amendments; final decisions on variances and any ordinance would be determined later by permitting staff and, where applicable, City Council.

Next steps: Austin Water will refine design packages and mitigation proposals, respond to Environmental Commission recommendations, finalize GMPs with the CMAR, and return to council on the planned May 22 agenda for action on required code amendments and project approvals.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Austin - Climate, Water, Environment, and Parks Committee - Apr 23, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Austin Water presented plans and a request for administrative variances to facilitate the expansion and enhancement of the Walnut Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant during a committee briefing.","taxTitle","Austin, Travis County, Texas","taxId",2819,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6579138,"Austin Resource Recovery proposes rules for cart placement and return-trip fees; Shoal Creek residents raise safety concerns",2925,29000,2954000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3100373-68ecc6020040307bc81420a4876fd32d&start=29&end=2954","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3100373-68ecc6020040307bc81420a4876fd32d/thumbnail_29000.jpg","/articles/6579138/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/Austin-Resource-Recovery-proposes-rules-for-cart-placement-and-return-trip-fees-Shoal-Creek-residents-raise-safety-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6579138-92d3ab7eb5fc6cb7ae5ffe6f875e65ea/orig.mp4?Expires=1770406497&Signature=ZlRaG0pXqtJgaEDkrgM6xNJjgkx7XondSuQS211xRFndBpp2iE-Dy7j3gSe4dlr5aLSREf~oFTuD38n2pzBC5tTlfa8b48o-z4C1MP7BdhPtIs4IvtulWR94CmJ0Ogg6RArntc~iTv8gb9oViTyAIlby9BBcgqaR0N7fAFgLxVmTYnq1iN7X8er~MVpC5qDaao2zZh~0QRdYophbR1x7XgysXDP3PkAhYLvPW6qliDboLdvCSnJxdJB7sqHbZ3Gei6vMcLEgsSsRM1gwo5XHlsb0PDXV1XvOk1bZFqTJcf8C~0VTSA8-ZfOHwhA5-CAxCGumbqXJ7FOR5E1ldRI8Lg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Austin Resource Recovery (ARR) presented proposed amendments to its solid-waste administrative rules governing cart placement at single-family homes and the department’s process for charging return-trip fees. Division manager Jason McCombs told the committee the changes are intended to clarify where carts may be placed for collection, how overflow materials should be handled, and how return‑trip fees will be assessed and communicated.

The department said the draft rules were first presented to the Zero Waste Advisory Commission (ZWAC) in January, then posted to SpeakUpAustin for public comment. ARR staff said ZWAC voted to recommend the rules and that staff subsequently received additional stakeholder feedback — including media coverage in the Austin Monitor — that focused on bike lanes and sidewalks.

What ARR is proposing and why: ARR said the standard in the draft currently reads that “carts shall not be placed in the path of mail delivery locations, vehicles and driveways, bike paths and sidewalks.” Following stakeholder comments, staff proposed adjusting language to clarify that carts should not create long-term obstructions but acknowledged that in denser neighborhoods carts may need to be placed in bike lanes or on narrow sidewalks for short periods. McCombs said ARR and Transportation/Public Works have discussed language that allows coexistence of carts and bike lanes while discouraging persistent blocking of travel paths.

Public comment and neighborhood concerns: Caroline Reynolds, a resident of District 7 and a member of the Allendale Neighborhood Association Safety Committee, testified during public comment that placement rules as currently proposed can force West Side residents to leave carts in bike lanes, narrow street lanes or on sidewalks because those are the only available locations. Reynolds said the resource‑recovery truck’s equipment and on‑street obstacles (trees, signs, parked cars) create unsafe situations when crews and residents place or retrieve bins on Shoal Creek Boulevard. She urged ARR staff (specifically naming Jason McCombs) to inspect the corridor and test proposed placement locations in the field.

Staff response on enforcement and outreach: McCombs said ARR plans to continue outreach and to meet with neighborhood groups (he mentioned a commitment to contact the Allendale group). He described return‑trip fees as situations that typically arise when a cart was missed at collection and said customers are contacted and given the choice to pay for a return trip; staff said the fee is not designed to be a surprise line-item on a bill and that ARR’s customer service will handle inquiries and payment arrangements. McCombs and committee members discussed public education materials; staff said outreach and clarification (including potential web guidance and direct neighborhood engagement) are planned, although staff did not present diagrams or videos at the briefing.

ZWAC and next steps: ARR told the committee the draft rules were recommended by ZWAC and will be taken forward to City Council as part of the department’s rules adoption process (ARR administrative rules are finalized at council rather than through the city manager process used by many departments). Staff emphasized their intent to strike a balance between supporting active transportation infrastructure and providing workable collection for residents in denser or constrained neighborhoods.

Committee members asked staff about leniency and enforcement; ARR said the department expects outreach and conversations with residents rather than immediate punitive enforcement. Staff also acknowledged they will continue to review unique neighborhood situations and work with Transportation/Public Works and neighborhood associations to develop context-sensitive solutions.

Proposed rule excerpts and public input: ARR referred the committee to a strike‑through/clean version of the rules in the meeting backup materials and to the SpeakUpAustin record for stakeholder comments. McCombs said ARR will continue follow-up on specific Shoal Creek concerns raised by Reynolds and other stakeholders.","Austin Resource Recovery presented proposed administrative rule changes that would clarify cart placement and return‑trip fee procedures for single‑family households while saying carts may be allowed to coexist with bike lanes in constrained locations.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6579133,"City releases 2024 State of the Environment report; urban forest resilience flagged as priority",492,3355000,3847000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3100373-68ecc6020040307bc81420a4876fd32d&start=3355&end=3847","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3100373-68ecc6020040307bc81420a4876fd32d/thumbnail_3355000.jpg","/articles/6579133/Austin/Travis-County/Texas/City-releases-2024-State-of-the-Environment-report-urban-forest-resilience-flagged-as-priority","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6579133-aaa1c753416b290fa45f767cbd95bd42/orig.mp4?Expires=1770406497&Signature=dvxFB5wQsUaDvumExBRQlJzC3JhwUaTuHiRTtyeE8egBoiv~LxHsTuxsgegSujPcBjrHtfCD0bmxhPbdWkWaUB82NG8Mz-BEuTd8iox1q~l6ADAxhpHbSW84sbp1gHkAHo0GaobPL2u7IfFGUY-vkLgKXa8ajdPknDIXd0gqmlzQW2OWQndrwF1Cb04j3C7l2-frB3Krtvut2pfQ1PW2wUfvRc48JhxmzBpi2G91K4QAn3~Q5xa0xc2JjRZ1YArThFRENHVIIfUxRIi1NM--wpK88W~inXsCoyChjwJHsE5mNbRjtoX79MRHfxaRIk74eiamUkAgiTi-vsYV72-Wug__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Liz Johnston, the city’s interim environmental officer, presented the 2024 State of the Environment report, a mandated annual compilation of environmental data and dashboards collected across multiple city departments. The report aggregates information on lakes, creeks and the aquifer; air quality and climate metrics; urban forestry and tree canopy; public open space; and Austin Water’s Wildlands program.

Johnston said the report is intended as a clearinghouse of citywide environmental data to support departmental decision-making and to give policymakers and the public a common reference for planning. The report includes a feature video about Austin Water’s Wildlands program, which the presentation highlighted as a multi-decade conservation effort that contributes to biodiversity and open-space goals.

Committee members asked how the report could be used to help set priorities for capital investments, bonds or climate-related projects. Johnston replied that the report’s datasets are produced by the respective departments and can inform prioritization exercises — for example, urban-forest and watershed data are used to identify locations for tree planting, creek restoration and open-space acquisition.

Notable data points discussed in the briefing included a steady tree canopy estimate at about 41% coverage and the city’s objective to increase canopy toward a 50% aspirational goal. Johnston and committee members discussed the need to build resilience in the urban forest given increasing heat, drought and flood stress under a changing climate and noted ongoing interdepartmental work on tree-planting programs and partnerships with community organizations.

Johnston thanked departmental staff for contributing data and singled out staff who worked on the Wildlands feature. The report will remain available through the Environmental Officer’s office and the linked dashboards for use by departments, neighborhood groups and the public.

No formal committee action was taken; Johnston invited members to provide suggestions for future report features and offered to follow up with staff on questions about tree species, pollinators and fruit-tree strategies requested by council members.","Interim Environmental Officer Liz Johnston presented the city’s legally required 2024 State of the Environment report, a cross-departmental compilation of air, water, urban forestry and open‑space data that the report’s authors say should inform departmental planning and long-term investments, with particular emphasis on urban forest resilience.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Austin Water seeks variances and code amendments to expand Walnut Creek wastewater plant to 100 million gallons per day

Austin Resource Recovery proposes rules for cart placement and return-trip fees; Shoal Creek residents raise safety concerns

City releases 2024 State of the Environment report; urban forest resilience flagged as priority