Smithville delays water treatment plant expansion to 2032, adds SCADA and AMI to 10-year CIP

Smithville staff presented a revised 10-year Capital Improvement Plan for the combined Water and Wastewater Fund and told the Board of Aldermen on April 7 that the major water treatment plant expansion originally planned for 2029 is now expected around 2032. "Updated population and growth projections indicate additional capacity will not be needed until approximately 2032," Mayra Toothman, assistant to the public works director, said during the presentation.

The updated CIP includes a revised cost estimate for the future plant expansion of roughly $32 million, including engineering. Toothman said the plan also adds two system modernization projects: a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, which staff recommended implementing in 2026 using available funds (estimated cost about $2,501,000), and an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) program planned for a later phase to provide real-time usage data to customers and utility billing.

Staff described near-term upgrades to the existing treatment plant — improvements to the primary clarifier, mix chamber and high-service pump room — while reserving decisions about a full treatment facility until additional data and growth warrant construction. "Postponing a dedicated treatment project does not eliminate the issue from long-term planning," Toothman said, adding that the city has begun a lake-sampling program and is using operational adjustments and new chemical feed equipment now to manage taste-and-odor concerns.

On the wastewater side, staff reported the plant currently is rated at 1.125 million gallons per day and that planned improvements in 2027 will increase capacity to about 1.5 mgd. The Board previously approved HDR for preliminary design work and staff said the project will use a construction manager at-risk delivery method. Major wastewater projects called out in the CIP include the Owens Branch interceptor, the Rocky Branch sanitary sewer project to serve growth areas, upsizing the Hills of Shannon sewer line and continued replacement of aging lift stations.

Board members pressed staff on the timing change for the water expansion. Toothman and staff attributed the delay to slower-than-anticipated development and updated population forecasts; they also pointed to ongoing system improvements and a multi-year rehabilitation program that has reduced the frequency of water line breaks. The Board directed staff to develop public-education materials, including informational videos, to help residents understand how household plumbing and maintenance (aging pipes, water heater flushing) can affect taste, odor and discoloration.

The presentation positioned the SCADA and AMI projects as operational priorities to improve real-time monitoring, system responsiveness and meter accuracy, and staff said other projects such as the Stonebridge Pump Station and river-crossing water main are scheduled to begin construction this year. No formal board action was taken on the CIP during the work session; the discussion was presented as an update to guide upcoming budget and communication planning.