Posting Language
Title
Authorize negotiation and execution of an interlocal agreement with the cities of Round Rock, Cedar Park, and Leander for the reimbursement of costs related to the rehabilitation of the East Wastewater Treatment Plant of the Brushy Creek Regional Wastewater System and authorize the City's share of funding for capital improvements to the East Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant in an amount not to exceed $1,400,000. Funding: $1,400,000 is available in the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Capital Budget of the Austin Water Department. Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets.
De
Lead Department
Austin Water.
Fiscal Note
Funding in the amount of $1,400,000 is available in the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Capital Budget of the Austin Water Department. Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets.
Prior Council Action:
July 23, 2009 - Council approved an interlocal agreement to purchase the City’s share of the Brushy Creek Regional Wastewater System from the Lower Colorado River Authority.
September 22, 2011 - Council approved an agreement with the Brazos River Authority for the operation and maintenance of the Brushy Creek Regional Wastewater System.
March 6, 2014 - Council approved an interlocal agreement with the Cities of Round Rock, Leander, and Cedar Park concerning the capacity, operation, maintenance, and improvements to the Southwest Interceptor of the Brushy Creek Regional Wastewater System.
May 18, 2017 - Council approved negotiation and execution of interlocal agreements with the cities of Round Rock, Cedar Park, and Leander for the reimbursement of costs related to the expansion of the Brushy Creek Regional Wastewater System.
May 7, 2020 - Council approved negotiation and execution of an amendment to the agreement with the cities of Round Rock, Cedar Park, and Leander to increase Austin’s reimbursement share related to the expansion of the Brushy Creek Regional Wastewater System.
March 21, 2024 - Council approved negotiation and execution of an interlocal agreement with the cities of Round Rock, Cedar Park, and Leander for the reimbursement of costs related to the expansion of the Brushy Creek Regional Wastewater System.
For More Information:
Inquiries should be directed to Heather Cooke, Austin Water Chief Administrative Officer, 512-972-0083 or heather.cooke@austintexas.gov <mailto:heather.cooke@austintexas.gov>
Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action:
December 4, 2024 - to be reviewed by the Water and Wastewater Commission.
Additional Backup Information:
The Brushy Creek Regional Wastewater System (Brushy Creek System) is a wastewater system located in southern Williamson County. The cities of Austin, Round Rock, and Cedar Park jointly purchased the Brushy Creek System from the Lower Colorado River Authority in 2009, and each City is a partial owner of the Brushy Creek System. The City of Leander joined the other cities in 2011.
Two wastewater treatment plants of the Brushy Creek System are located in the City of Round Rock’s jurisdiction and treat wastewater within the Brushy Creek, Onion Creek, Chandler Creek, and McNutt Creek watersheds. The plants are known as the East WWTP and the West WWTP. Austin has approximately 5,007 retail wastewater connections, which discharge into the Brushy Creek System (primarily within the Avery Ranch subdivision).
The partner cities have agreed to jointly pursue the rehabilitation of various system components of the East WWTP to meet or maintain regulatory requirements and to improve operations of the Brushy Creek System for the benefit of the cities. The rehabilitation efforts pursued with this agreement will occur concurrently with the ongoing project related to the expansion of the Brushy Creek System approved by Council in March of this year.
Partner cities will pay their proportionate costs for rehabilitation at the East WWTP according to the Cost Allocation Percentages shown in the table below:
|
Partner ("City") |
|
Ownership Capacity (MGD) |
Cost Allocation |
|
Estimated Cost Share (millions) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Round Rock |
|
20.05 |
60.76% |
|
$8.6 |
|
Leander |
|
4.23 |
12.82% |
|
$1.8 |
|
Cedar Park |
|
5.46 |
16.55% |
|
$2.4 |
|
Austin |
|
3.26 |
9.87% |
|
$1.4 |
|
TOTAL |
|
33.00 |
100.00% |
|
$14.2 |
It is anticipated that the rehabilitation will be completed by Fiscal Year 2030. The City of Round Rock will bid, manage, and oversee the rehabilitation of the East WWTP. Each of the cities will reimburse their proportionate share of costs to Round Rock as milestones are achieved.