Austin council approves $7.9 million contract to shore up wastewater plant against flooding

The Austin City Council voted to award a $7,885,568.23 contract for Phase 1 of a flood-protection project at the city wastewater treatment plant, the council decided after a staff presentation and brief questions.

City engineering staff said the work will include earth levees, a sheet-pile wall, replacement of an aging 42-inch brick gravity trunk sewer installed about 1925, new outfall structures, some pump replacements and a new sanitary sewer force main crossing of the Cedar River. "Eulan Brothers was the low bidder. Their base bid was $7,378,129.60," said Steven Lynn, the city staff member who presented the bid results. "Our recommendation is to award the base bid and alternate number 1 to Eulan Brothers in total amount $7,885,568.23." Alternate 1 covers an open-cut river crossing; alternate 2, which would use tunnel-boring equipment, came in considerably higher and was not recommended.

The council was told the project is being financed with a mix of state grant dollars, local option sales tax reserves and industrial sewer user fees; staff said it provided a funding breakdown in the project memo. Council members asked about schedule and funding timing. Lynn said work will begin with limited activities in the fall — likely early August — continue into winter where needed (for example the river crossing when flows are low) and resume with the bulk of work in summer 2026. Council members noted the city's local option sales tax collection ends on March 30, 2027, and staff confirmed the city maintains reserves in the fund until projects are completed.

After a motion to approve and a roll call, council members recorded affirmative votes and the resolution to award the base bid plus alternate 1 to Eulan Brothers passed. The council directed staff to proceed with contract award consistent with the recommendation and project funding plan.

Why it matters: the project is the first phase of a two-phase effort to protect the wastewater treatment plant from flood damage and to replace aging sewer infrastructure that runs beneath the levee. City staff emphasized the replacement of the century-old, 42-inch brick trunk main as a priority to avoid a future collapse.

Next steps: staff will finalize contract documents and return any required contract award paperwork. The city will also coordinate the river crossing work and the multi-season construction schedule with the contractor and state reviewers as needed.