Austin Water presents $2.7 billion five-year CIP, previews Walnut Creek expansion, long tunnels and facility upgrades

Austin Water officials told the Climate, Water, Environment, and Parks Committee on Oct. 22, 2025 that the utility’s five‑year capital improvements plan (CIP) included $2.7 billion of prioritized projects and previewed timelines and delivery approaches for several multi‑year, generational investments including the Walnut Creek wastewater treatment plant expansion and a deep transmission main from Davis Water Treatment Plant.

The CIP briefing described why the investments matter to Austin: the utility serves more than 1 million Central Texas customers and manages nearly 3,000 miles of wastewater pipe and almost 4,000 miles of water pipe. Martin Tower, who leads Austin Water’s Infrastructure Management Division, said staff used a zero‑based, risk‑adjusted planning approach that pared an initial $3.6 billion staff request down to the $2.7 billion five‑year plan approved as part of the August budget process.

The presentation outlined project examples, schedules and risks. Key projects discussed include:

- Walnut Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant expansion: staff said the project will raise capacity from 75 million gallons per day (MGD) to 100 MGD and convert existing processes to biological nutrient removal. The scope includes a flood wall, advanced odor control, a plant‑wide modernization and a change from chlorine gas to ultraviolet…