Genomoto Foods proposes $12 million on‑site wastewater plant in Lampasas; residents raise odor and location concerns

Genomoto Foods told a Lampasas town hall on Aug. 11 that it plans to invest roughly $12 million to build a permanent, on‑site wastewater treatment system at its downtown manufacturing campus, a project the company says will reduce the load on the city's treatment plant and free capacity for future growth.

The investment, Genomoto representatives said, would be built on company property adjacent to the existing plant and is intended to limit the amount of industrial wastewater sent to the city's pretreatment system. "This investment demonstrates Genomoto's commitment to the city of Lampasas," David Gardner, the company's chief supply chain officer, said during the presentation. Company representatives said the project would protect roughly 400 jobs at the plant and create construction and operations work during and after build‑out.

Why it matters: Genomoto officials said the system would allow the municipal plant to accept more residential and commercial customers by lowering the industrial strength of the wastewater currently discharged from the factory. Residents and downtown business owners attending the workshop pressed company staff and city officials for details about odor control, noise, temporary equipment and the plant's…