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Ennis signals urgent investment in water and sewer: study and multi-year fixes proposed
Summary
Utility staff reported hundreds of water-main repairs and nearly 1,000 sewer backups over the past year and urged a system-wide capacity and condition study, new repair crews, a large line-replacement program, and meter upgrades that may require multi-year rate changes.
Utility operations and public works leaders told the Ennis City Commission on July 10 that the citys water and wastewater systems face urgent, widespread deterioration and capacity stress.
Collection and distribution supervisors reported high repair volumes: 476 water-main repairs and 928 sewer backups in the last year. "We only have two fully outfitted repair trucks for the entire city," Collection & Distribution Superintendent Junior Castillo said, describing pressure on crews and equipment.
Treatment plants and lift stations: staff said the wastewater treatment facility is operating at or beyond design capacity during rain events, prompting occasional reportable overflows. Wastewater supervisors proposed a multi-part approach: immediate emergency repairs and manhole work, a system-wide capacity and condition study, and a prioritized multi-year line-replacement program. "This is a start, not a fix; we need long-term phased investment," the utility operations director said.
Staff requests and estimated packages: utility staff described decision-package priorities including additional repair crews and equipment, a $25 million line-replacement list of about 40 high-priority mains, and a separate capacity study and assessment to inform phasing. The city manager said the rate study and several contract solicitations will be necessary because utility rates currently underfund recurring maintenance and capital needs.
Funding and next steps: staff warned that capital demands, rising construction costs and existing debt-service obligations mean the utility fund will need revised fees or rate adjustments over several years to remain viable. The commission asked staff to assemble the system-wide study and return with grant-application options and prioritized projects at the July 29 workshop.
Public-safety note: commissioners and staff emphasized that work must be staged to avoid repeated repairs and to reduce future emergency costs. The city will pursue grants and peer-city models while preparing a rate-study procurement to determine cost-recovery options.
