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Trinity River Authority outlines $860M five‑year plan to address PFAS, proposes $400M ECP authorization
Summary
Matthew Joppert of the Trinity River Authority told the Bedford City Council the Authority is proposing a roughly $860 million five‑year capital improvement program — including a $265 million full‑scale PFOS treatment project — and recommended allowing extendable commercial paper (up to $400 million) to smooth rate impacts.
Matthew Joppert, a representative of the Trinity River Authority, told the Bedford City Council the Authority’s water system has recorded multiple PFOS sample exceedances and will need major treatment and infrastructure work to meet forthcoming federal limits. "The $860,000,000 is a big shock to everybody," Joppert said, describing a five‑year CIP that lists a $265,000,000 PFOS treatment project to treat about 87,000,000 gallons per day.
Joppert said federal rulemaking on PFAS has shifted: initial reporting begins in April 2027 and EPA materials published May 20 propose extending the compliance deadline to April 26, 2031. He said TRA has begun pilot testing of granular activated carbon (GAC) and will submit pilot results to TCEQ before moving to full‑scale construction. "We were exceeding that," Joppert said, summarizing recent sampling for PFOS and the need to address concentrations above the relevant limit.
To reduce the immediate rate shock to customers, the Authority recommended an alternative borrowing plan: extendable commercial paper (ECP) with an authorization up to $400,000,000 so TRA can fund projects as invoices arrive and later convert short‑term borrowings to long‑term bonds. "What we're proposing is extendable commercial paper with an authorization of up to 400,000,000," Joppert said, explaining that ECP spreads borrowing and lets the Authority delay issuing the full amount of long‑term debt at once.
Council members pressed for protections and oversight if Bedford amends its contract to permit ECP, asking whether the amendment would reduce city control over debt issuance. The city attorney said the office would review contract terms but cautioned cities cannot unreasonably restrict TRA's financing actions; council members secured a commitment for annual presentations and further review of contract language before any approval to amend occurred. The Authority also reported it has submitted a Drinking Water SRF application for principal forgiveness and noted potential future payments from manufacturer settlements but said no receipts have yet been realized.
