Willis Council tables wastewater expansion engineering while sewer-line inspections proceed

Bleyl Engineering told the Willis City Council on Oct. 21 that the city should begin a Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) to expand its wastewater treatment plant from 0.999 million gallons per day (MGD) to 1.49 MGD because a prior agreement to send 200,000 gallons per day to Conroe has expired and local development is increasing flows.

Jonny Green of Bleyl Engineering said the plant is “currently operating at about 65% capacity,” and that under Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) requirements planning for expansion begins once a plant reaches 75% capacity. He recommended starting the PER now because planning, design, permitting and construction typically take multiple years.

City Manager Sheyi Ipaye urged caution, saying he did not want the Council to rush into engineering work and that staff have already allocated funds to televise and inspect sewer lines and complete smoke testing to identify inflow and infiltration issues that are contributing to peak flows. “I would like to complete the smoke testing and line inspections first to fully assess conditions before moving forward with engineering work,” Ipaye said.

After discussion, Councilman Thomas Belinoski moved to table Item 5(A) until additional information from inspections could be provided; Councilman Barney Stone seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

What happens next: staff will complete the planned televising and smoke-testing of sewer lines to quantify inflow and infiltration and report back to Council. If inspections show that remedial sewer work does not sufficiently reduce peak flows, the Council will revisit authorization for a PER and subsequent design and permitting work.