Levelland hears update on $20.4 million wastewater plant; council approves several routine purchases and local actions

Park Hill project manager Daniel Albus told the Levelland City Council on Jan. 20 that engineering estimates put the new wastewater treatment plant’s construction cost at about $20,400,000 and laid out a permitting and bidding schedule intended to begin construction this spring.

Albus said the design will use a mechanical activated sludge process that allows the city to keep existing land-application areas in place while producing more consistent, higher-quality effluent for current and potential reuse customers. “So right now, we’re at an estimated construction cost, from engineering estimates of 20,400,000.0,” Daniel Albus, project manager for Park Hill, said during his presentation.

The project team said a draft state permit was received in November and the full design submittal was sent to state reviewers under Chapter 217. Park Hill reported that it received design approval faster than expected and is planning a formal bid advertisement for Jan. 30, with bids opening on March 6 and council review and possible award later in March. Albus said the estimated time from notice to proceed to completion is roughly 18 to 20 months, placing operation of the new plant in late 2027 if the schedule holds.

Why it matters: the city has classified its existing facility as approaching the end of useful life; failing mechanical components and rising sludge levels have reduced treatment reliability and complicated meeting state effluent requirements. Council members repeatedly pressed for speed and for protections against further failures while staff and consultants stressed the need to lock permitting and procurement details before advancing to construction.

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