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Austin Water reviews five-year capital plan, facilities upgrades and new control center
Summary
Austin Water staff told the commission about a $2.7 billion five-year capital plan (refined from a $3.6 billion staff request) and outlined facilities priorities including renovation of the Austin Water Control Center, consolidation of lab space, and purchase of a 141-acre South Service Center hub; staff said last fiscal year building maintenance spending was about $5.3 million.
Austin Water staff presented an overview of the department's capital improvements planning and long-range facilities work to the Water and Wastewater Commission on Jan. 14.
Martin Tower, division manager for infrastructure management, described the CIP process as a data-driven, zero-based planning exercise that builds a five-year plan and forecasts 10 years out. He said leadership refined a staff request of about $3.6 billion down to a $2.7 billion plan included in the city budget passed in 2025 and noted major projects recently completed or underway, including advanced metering infrastructure and the Walnut Creek wastewater treatment plant expansion.
"At Austin Water, during each budget cycle, we create 5 year plans and forecast out 10 years to communicate to the many stakeholders as we mobilize the resources needed to deliver these complex projects," Tower said. He described CIP chairs who vet project business cases, align priorities, and coordinate with other city plans such as Water Forward and Project Connect.
Melvin Frazier Jr., division manager for facility management, presented the department's long-range facilities plan. He said Austin Water manages about 63 buildings across roughly 20 campuses that support more than 1,000,000 customers and outlined priorities including renovating the Walla Creek Center floors and creating a permanent laboratory to replace the leased Summit Lab. He described the Austin Water Control Center renovation at 712 Huddlund Drive (lab space, a combined control center and an emergency operations center) and previewed feasibility work for a 141-acre South Service Center hub purchased in fiscal 2025.
Frazier said the department spent about $5,300,000 last fiscal year on building maintenance (HVAC, roofs, gates, electrical) and that the long-range plan is intended as a living document projecting out at least 15 years while balancing routine maintenance with long-term investments.
Why it matters: The CIP and facilities planning work set priorities for where the utility will invest capital and maintenance funding, affecting neighborhoods, system reliability and future operating costs. Staff said project and budget details are published in the city budget documents and on the Austin Finance project portal and that the department maintains a public project website.
