Commission recommends updated water and wastewater master plans to council amid large capital program

Brandon Pritchett, Pflugerville’s utility director, introduced five‑year updates to the city’s water and wastewater master plans and said the work updates modeling, demand projections and capital plans using the Aspire 2040 land‑use assumptions. Project engineer Mo and the consultant team reviewed modeling that uses historical billing and flow data, scenario horizons for 2030 and 2035 and a full build‑out analysis.

Key points presented included projected connection counts (about 16,000 in 2025 moving toward roughly 18,000 by 2030) and an estimated maximum daily demand at full build‑out of roughly 27.1 million gallons per day (MGD) as modeled. The water CIP totals shown in the presentation included a near‑term (2025–2029) subtotal around $55 million, roughly $47 million for the 2030 horizon and $81 million for the 2035/build‑out horizon. Pritchett said three ongoing large projects (water treatment plant expansion, Wilbarger Wastewater Treatment Plant and a raw water pipeline) drive the largest near‑term debt impacts for rates.

Commissioners asked about drought‑year adjustments, per‑connection usage benchmarking, counting infill, and whether the master plan projections align with the city’s LCRA raw‑water contract. Staff said the city’s LCRA contract provides about 24,000 acre‑feet per year and that modeled peak build‑out demands had been compared to supply commitments. After technical discussion, the commission voted to recommend the updated plans to city council for first reading.

Why it matters: The master plans guide infrastructure investments that affect future service capacity and water/wastewater rates; the presentation clarified how modeling assumptions, major active capital projects and wholesale contracts shape near‑term financing and rate decisions.