Fair Oaks Ranch staff update CIAC on water and wastewater capital projects and costs
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Summary
Public works staff briefed the Capital Improvements Advisory Committee on a slate of water and wastewater projects — storage tanks, waterline extensions, treatment-plant expansion and system resiliency projects — including costs, timelines and funding responsibilities.
Fair Oaks Ranch public works staff gave the Capital Improvements Advisory Committee a detailed update on water and wastewater capital projects, including project status, estimated costs and timelines for construction.
Staff said the city recently purchased land for a half‑million‑gallon elevated storage tank on the northern border of the city; zoning and a design amendment are in progress, and staff estimated the tank could be online in about 18 to 24 months once design and permitting are complete. The elevated tank is intended to improve pressure, peak‑demand supply and fire protection in low‑pressure zones.
The Plant 5 ground storage tank project is in final design and in review with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ); staff said approvals typically take 60 to 90 days. The estimated total cost for that project is $1,550,000.
Staff outlined a GBRA main extension to connect the city to an existing Guadalupe‑Blanco River Authority line along Amman Road. The extension would provide a second delivery point for purchased water and is being coordinated with the City of Boerne. Preliminary cost‑share discussions put Fair Oaks Ranch’s share at about 31% and Boerne’s at 69%; the city’s estimated share is $750,000. Staff said an interlocal agreement (ILA) or cost‑sharing agreement with Boerne is expected.
A proposed 12‑inch Deep Elkhorn water main from the Elmo Davis water plant to the city’s eastern area is budgeted at about $1,500,000 for the city’s share. Staff said a utility service agreement with the developer of the “Quarterly Tract” (as referenced in packet materials) is in negotiation and currently shows a 75% city / 25% developer cost split for an upsized line designed to serve additional areas.
On the wastewater side, staff described a two‑phase expansion of the wastewater treatment plant. Phase 1 is in final design and includes improvements to the effluent pump station, lift‑station upgrades, headworks odor control and conveyance piping; construction is expected to begin in early 2026 and is estimated to take 12 months. Staff said phase 2 will be scheduled closer to full build‑out.
Staff identified several near‑term projects to address aging mains and recurring failures: Willow Wind/Redbud Hill line replacements (about 3,300 linear feet), Rolling Acres Trail replacement (about 2,300 linear feet) and Old Fredericksburg Road main replacement performed in coordination with Bexar County. Combined construction cost for the Willow Wind/Redbud Hill and Rolling Acres Trail replacements is estimated at $1,300,000 (including a 5% contingency). The city’s water‑main portion of the Old Fredericksburg Road joint bid was reported as $562,000.
Staff reported the planned decommissioning of the Falls Lift Station and replacement with approximately 1,700 linear feet of gravity main. The Falls project is estimated at $925,000, with about $113,000 budgeted this fiscal year for design; construction is expected to be budgeted in the next fiscal year. For a separate localized sewer bottleneck, the Kojak Circle manhole and sewer upsize (about 1,200 linear feet) is written into a utility service agreement and, as drafted, would be designed and constructed by the developer at no city cost.
Other projects discussed included a Plant 3 electrical‑controls upgrade with an estimated cost of $138,960; a SAWS (San Antonio Water System) emergency interconnect to provide backup supply to pressure zone C with an estimated project cost of $443,000; and ongoing tank maintenance and recoating work on the city’s seven ground storage tanks. Staff said the tank maintenance program had a contract increase of $20,000 to cover latent repairs discovered after dewatering; the transcript did not specify the final annual contract total.
Staff also said a public “capital tracker” web portal is near launch to publish live updates on project schedules and statuses.
Committee members asked about easements, pumping capacity, and schedule coordination with adjacent projects; staff answered that some easements will need to be acquired, pumping capacity is provided at the Elmo Davis water plant for certain lines, and many projects are being coordinated with Bexar County, SAWS and the City of Boerne to reduce redundancy and costs.
