City prepares to meet increased water/wastewater needs
Alexandria Randolph/The Highlander
A new 500,000-gallon water tank for the Marble Falls City Water Plant will be completed in December.
by Alexandria Randolph
The City of Marble Falls is moving forward with its Master Plan to expand water and wastewater services in the coming years -- starting with construction of a new water tank and the design for a new wastewater treatment pant.
On Tuesday, Oct. 21, Marble Falls City Council approved a design services contract with HDR, Inc. in the amount of $330,000 for future wastewater treatment plant improvements. City Engineer Eric Belaj said the plant is nearing its capacity.
“Our treatment plant is approved to treat .9 million gallons a day. Right now we are treating 90 percent of that,” he said.
Belaj said at the current wastewater treatment plant site, the city is limited to an expansion that would treat 1.5 million gallons per day.
“Going beyond 1.5 million would be cost prohibitive,” he said. “Our designers will be going to a look to see if we can go beyond 1.5, but, at this point, it doesn’t seem likely.”
Belaj added that the design budget is $330,000, and will be fully funded by the Marble Falls Economic Development Corporation, with roughly $100,000 appropriated from last year’s budget and the remainder to come from this year’s budget.
For the full story, see Friday's Highlander.
