News Summary
Georgetown, Texas, has launched a $291.8 million water infrastructure initiative to mitigate anticipated water shortages by 2030. The initiative includes the opening of the South Lake Water Treatment Plant, which will significantly enhance the city’s water supply. With plans to boost capacity through various projects and groundwater contracts, Georgetown aims to diversify its water sources and ensure sustainable access for its residents.
Georgetown, Texas Launches $291.8 Million Water Infrastructure Initiative Ahead of Anticipated Water Shortage
The city of Georgetown has initiated a $291.8 million water infrastructure program aimed at addressing a looming water shortage projected to affect the region by 2030. This initiative includes the opening of the South Lake Water Treatment Plant, which will significantly enhance the city’s water supply.
Expansion of Water Supply
In early June 2025, Georgetown opened the South Lake Water Treatment Plant, which is expected to boost the city’s treated water supply by 22 million gallons per day (mgd) this summer, with an additional 22 mgd set to be added by next summer. This expansion will double the current water treatment capacity of the city’s water utility.
Funding and Construction
The South Lake Water Treatment Plant is being constructed under a contract valued at $175.3 million with PLW Waterworks. The funding for this project is derived from a mix of fees collected from new home developers and revenue from water utility bills. To support the operations of this new plant, infrastructure improvements are also underway, which will include the installation of water, wastewater, and electric lines.
Project Timeline
The construction of the South Lake Water Treatment Plant is being conducted in two phases, with completion anticipated by 2026. This follows the successful completion of two other significant water-related projects in 2024: the expansion of the North Lake Water Treatment Plant, which increased capacity by 30% to 37.4 mgd at a cost of $11.7 million, and the rehabilitation of the Southside Water Treatment Plant, which added another 3.6 mgd to the city’s water supply.
Current Water Supply and Future Needs
Currently, Georgetown relies heavily on the Brazos River Authority for approximately 70% of its water supply and has limited access to groundwater sourced from the Edwards Aquifer. The city’s 2022 Integrated Water Resources Plan emphasizes the importance of diversifying water sources and suggests including groundwater in order to safeguard against drought conditions.
Groundwater Initiatives
In light of future needs, Georgetown is actively negotiating three potential groundwater supply contracts with EPCOR, GateHouse Water, and Recharge Water and Brewer. In January 2025, the City Council authorized negotiations with Recharge Water to secure up to 34,800 acre-feet of water annually from the Simsboro Aquifer. Furthermore, a two-year reservation agreement is in place with EPCOR, which could lead to a contract capable of delivering between 32-62.5 mgd of treated groundwater by 2030.
Infrastructure Investments
EPCOR’s proposal also entails constructing an 80-mile underground pipeline from Robertson County to Georgetown. If all agreements are finalized, the three contracts could potentially provide an additional 110 mgd of groundwater supply, significantly improving the city’s resilience against water shortages.
Next Steps
City officials intend to keep the public informed regarding the negotiations and other developments related to these infrastructure projects, with updates expected to be provided by the end of 2025. The strategic investments in water infrastructure are seen as vital to assure Georgetown’s sustainable water supply and future adaptability to changing environmental conditions.
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Additional Resources
- Community Impact News on Impact Fee Hikes
- Wikipedia: Georgetown, Texas
- Smart Water Magazine on Georgetown’s Water Plan
- Google Search: Georgetown Water Infrastructure
- KVUE on Water Supply Increase Agreement
- Google Scholar: Georgetown Water Supply
- Community Impact News on 5-Year Plan for Water Projects
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Water Infrastructure
- CBS Austin on Wastewater Spill Response
- Google News: Georgetown Texas Water
