Utilities director warns regional wastewater system nearing permit limits; new plant design underway

At the June 2 council meeting, Utilities Director Dane Sorensen told the council the city's regional wastewater system is approaching its permitted capacity and that the utility is finalizing design work for a new plant.

Sorensen reported the city operates three treatment plants with a combined capacity approaching roughly 1,000,000 gallons per day and said current average flows are near 250,000 gallons per day across the system. He warned staff is nearing regulatory thresholds and must complete design and construction promptly: "We're getting very, very close," he said, and cited the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) guidance discussed during the meeting that typically expects design activity to begin when plants reach about 70% of permitted capacity and requires construction to be underway by 90%. Council asked for frequent updates and for staff to prioritize design milestones.

Staff listed near‑term capital items to increase capacity and reliability: Arrowhead drip‑field expansion (to raise capacity at that plant), Big Sky Wastewater Treatment Plant brought online to reduce pump‑and‑haul, SCADA upgrades across lift stations, and bid preparations for discharge and interceptor improvements. Sorensen said staff hopes to complete design with consultants this summer and seek bids for construction with a conservative two‑year construction schedule once contracts are awarded.

What’s next: staff will continue final design with consultants, pursue funding and permitting steps, and report progress to council. Because the city is approaching permit thresholds, staff said coordination with TCEQ is ongoing and the city expects to continue working to avoid permit violations while construction proceeds.