REGULAR MEETING OF THE WATER AND WASTEWATER COMMISSION WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2025 – 4:00 P.M. AUSTIN WATER HEADQUARTERS WALLER CREEK CENTER 625 E 10TH STREET AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the Water and Wastewater Commission may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch- atxn-live Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, contact Vicky Addie, 512-972-0332, vicky.addie@austintexas.gov. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Chris Maxwell-Gaines, Chair (District 8) Amanda Marzullo (District 3) Alex Navarro (District 2) Shwetha Pandurangi (District 6) Mike Reyes (District 4) Evan Wolstencroft (District 5) CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL AGENDA Marcela Tuñón, Vice Chair (District 9) William Moriarty (Mayor) Alex Ortiz (District 7) Jesse Penn (District 1) Shannon Trilli (District 10) Speakers signed up to speak at the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three- minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Water and Wastewater Commission Regular meeting held November 12, 2025. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 2. Recommend authorization of recurring exempted procurements under Texas Local Government Code Chapter 252 for utility locator notification services for Austin Water with Texas Excavation Safety System Inc. d/b/a Texas811, in a total amount not to exceed $200,000. Funding: $200,000 is available in the FY 2025-2026 Operating Budget of Austin Water. STAFF BRIEFINGS 3. 4. 5. Staff briefing regarding Austin Water Strategic Plan Update. Presentation by Allison Orton Sprigg, Austin Water Enterprise Strategic Planning Manager Staff briefing regarding Water Forward 2024 Water Supply Strategies including aquifer storage and recovery and other water supply projects. Presentation by Marisa Flores- Gonzalez, Austin Water Resources Team Supervisor Staff briefing regarding Update on Austin Water’s Water Distribution System Water Loss and Mitigation. Presentation by Matt Cullen P.E., Austin Water Pipeline Engineering and Operations Support Division Manager COMMITTEE UPDATES 6. 7. Update from the Joint Sustainability Committee October 22, 2025 and November 19, 2025 meetings regarding conservation and sustainability initiatives. – Chair Chris Maxwell-Gaines Update from the Austin Integrated Water Resource Planning Community Task Force December 9, 2025 meeting regarding Water Forward Plan implementation. …
WATER AND WASTEWATER COMMISSION SPECIAL CALLED MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, November 12, 2025 The Water and Wastewater Commission convened in a special called meeting on November 12, 2025 at Waller Creek Center, 625 E 10th Street, Austin, Texas. Commission Members in Attendance: William Moriarty (remote), Alex Navarro, Alex Ortiz, Shwetha Pandurangi, Jesse Penn, Mike Reyes (remote), Shannon Trilli (remote), Vice Chair Marcela Tuñón, and Evan Wolstencroft Commission Members Absent: Amanda Marzullo and Chair Chris Maxwell-Gaines Vice Chair Tuñón called the Water and Wastewater Commission to order at 4:04 p.m. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Texas State Representative Stan Gerdes spoke in opposition to the proposed Aquifer Storage & Recovery Collaboration Agreement (Item 8). APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approval of minutes from the October 15, 2025 regular meeting of the Water and Wastewater Commission. The minutes were approved on Commissioner Pandurangi’s motion and Commissioner Navarro’s second on a 9-0 vote with two absences. DISCUSSION AND ACTION 2. Recommend approval of a contract for Wallace and Tiernan parts for critical equipment for Austin Water with Environmental Improvements, Inc. for an initial term of two years with up to three one-year extension options in an amount not to exceed $1,261,600. Funding: $231,293 is available in the Operating Budget of Austin Water. Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets. Recommended on Commissioner Wolstencroft’s motion and Commissioner Pandurangi’s second on a 9-0 vote with two absences. 3. Recommend approval of a contract for construction services for the Northwest Area Lift Station Improvements: Four Points Center Lift Station with Facilities Rehabilitation, Inc., in the amount of $3,774,900.00 plus a $377,490.00 contingency for a total contract amount not to exceed $4,152,390.00. Funding is available in the Capital Budget of Austin Water. Recommended on Commissioner Penn’s motion and Commissioner Navarro’s second on an 8-0 vote with Commissioner Pandurangi recusing and two absences. 4. Recommend approval of an amendment to the contract for engineering services for the Center Street Pump Station Replacement and Electrical Improvements project with CDM Smith, Inc., in the amount of $6,000,000 for a revised total contract amount not to exceed $12,000,000. Funding: $6,000,000 is available in the Capital Budget of Austin Water. Recommended on Commissioner Wolstencroft’s motion and Commissioner Pandurangi’s second on an 8-0 vote with Commissioner Reyes recusing and two absences. Page 1 of 3 5. Recommend approval of a resolution authorizing the defeasance of certain outstanding Water and Wastewater …
Item 2 Water & Wastewater Commission: December 10, 2025 Council: December 11, 2025 Posting Language ..Title Recommend authorization of recurring exempted procurements under Texas Local Government Code Chapter 252 for utility locator notification services for Austin Water with Texas Excavation Safety System Inc. d/b/a Texas811, in a total amount not to exceed $200,000. Funding: $200,000 is available in the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Operating Budget of Austin Water. ..De Lead Department Austin Water. Fiscal Note $200,000 is available in the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Operating Budget of Austin Water. Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action: December 10, 2025 - To be reviewed by the Water and Wastewater Commission. MBE/WBE: Sole source services are exempt from the City Code Chapter 2-9B (Minority-Owned and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Procurement Program); therefore, no subcontracting goals were established. Purchasing: Sole Source. Additional Backup Information: Austin Water (AW) routinely uses this sole source utility locator service, as required by Texas Utilities Code, Title 5, Chapter 251, which states that AW must use a notification center service to locate and mark utility lines in a right-of-way prior to performing any excavation activities. These services provide an additional layer of security for all underground utilities by placing a physical mark on the pavement to assist the excavator in locating the utility, while allowing precautions to be taken while operating near marked utilities. With increased construction expected around the City, excavations and directional bores are expected to increase every year. While these sole source services are exempt from competitive procurement law, these routine transactions can exceed the City Manager’s authority when aggregated over an entire fiscal year. The previous contract for this service expired on July 22, 2025, and this action will allow for purchases on an as-needed basis. The authorization amount for this request was determined using departmental estimates based on historical spending.
Strategic Plan Update Allison Orton Sprigg, Enterprise Strategic Planning Manager, Austin Water Water and Wastewater Commission December 10, 2025 Austin Water’s Strategic Plan The Why The What The Intention The Process The Project Project Timeline Engagement & Results Plan Goals & Strategies Plan Alignment Next Steps 2 Why we refreshed our Strategic Plan? Shaping the future beyond 2020... Extreme Weather Events & External Evaluations This plan reflects our evolving environment: Climate change Population growth Workforce sustainability Community & Staff priorities 3 What will this new plan do? Blueprint for Austin Water Decision-making framework Communications tool Builds connections Enables sharing of knowledge and expertise Incorporates and aligns all existing plans Long-range and flexible 4 The Intention Thoughtful Flexible Transparent Inclusive Considers: Austin Water staff input Community input Equity Climate resilience Accessible and informative 5 The Process “Ground-Up” Feedback All levels of Austin Water The community we serve Tactics Focus Groups Surveys Listening Sessions 6 Project Timeline Jan-April 2024 Aug-Dec 2024 March 2025 May 2025 July 2025 Q1FY26 Procurement Project Kick-off Staff Engagement Community Engagement AW Internal Follow-up Plan Launch! Council Approval Contract Executed Staff Engagement Executive Retreat Community Engagement Goals, Strategies & Alignment July 2024 Jan–Feb 2025 April 2025 June 2025 Aug–Sep 2025 7 Robust Engagement and Input Surveys Employee Outreach 8 9 Result: New Mission, Vision and Goals Mission Austin Water works every day to provide water for people and care for the environment. Vision Building Austin’s water future, together Five Goals 10 Goal: Create a people-first culture. Strategies: Culture Training Employee Care Internal Communication and Engagement Technical Depth American Water Works Association 2025 Wendall LaDue Utility Safety Award 11 Goal: Deliver high-quality and sustainable water, wastewater and environmental services for our customers. Strategies: Technical Expertise Enterprise Performance Knowledge Sharing Resource Management Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies 2025 Sustainable Water Utility Management Award 12 Goal: Invest in and maintain dependable infrastructure and systems. Strategies: Forward-Looking Smart Systems Future-Ready Sustainability Incremental Escalation National Association of Clean Water Agencies 2025 Platinum Peak Performance Award 13 Goal: Foster public confidence, preparedness …
Water Loss and Mitigation Briefing Austin Water | Water and Wastewater Commission | Dec. 10, 2025 Matt Cullen, P.E. Agenda Agenda • Overview • Water Loss Factors – 2023-2024 • Actions to Reduce Water Loss • Next Steps Overview Austin Water’s water distribution system includes: 4,018 miles of pipeline Pipes range in size from 2-inch to 84-inch diameter Our multi-pronged approach to reduce sources of water loss: On-going participation in industry best practices and innovations Fast response to reported leaks Infrastructure renewal investments Proactive leak detection 3 Water Loss Trends 10.00 9.00 8.00 7.00 6.00 5.00 4.00 3.00 2.00 1.00 FY 08 FY 09 FY 10 FY 11 FY 12 FY13 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Infrastructure Leakage Index (ILI) 4 Water Loss & ILI Terms ILI is an industry performance indicator calculated as the ratio of Current Annual Real Losses to Unavoidable Annual Real Losses Real Losses: Water lost from system leaks and pressure-related issues.(cid:3031)(cid:3031) Unavoidable Annual Real Losses: The theoretical minimum level of water loss through all feasible leakage control efforts, regardless of cost. Unavoidable Loss is based on system-specific factors: miles of water mains number of service connections average annual system pressure Apparent Losses: Water that is distributed to a user but isn't accurately measured or billed. Results in lost revenue rather than a physical loss of water. 5 Water Loss Factors 2023 – 2024 30% increase in calculated water loss attributed to: Improvement in production flow measurement (0.5-1.0 billion gallons, or a 7-14% increase) Updated reporting of municipal water use (0.816 billion gallons, or an 11% increase) Increased “Real” Real Loss (0.376-0.876 billion gallons, or a 5-12% increase) 6 Actions to Reduce Water Loss In 2023, Black & Veatch was contracted to analyze our Water Loss Program The final 2024 Black & Veatch Report offered 32 recommendations: 11 are Complete or Operationalized 17 are In Progress 4 have prerequisite items that are In Progress 7 Leak Detection Practices Evaluate entire system every 6 years Explore more targeted approaches Continue large diameter leak detection & condition assessment Complete leak detection SOPs that include: Contract standards Data management Ongoing staff training Piloting new technologies Inspecting ARV’s, valves & vaults on …
Water Forward 2024 Water Forward 2024 Water Supply Strategies Water Supply Strategies Austin Water | 12/10/2025 Water and Wastewater Commission Water Forward 2024 Water Supply Strategies Water Forward 2024 (WF24) Supply Strategies Overview Adaptive Management Approach WF24 Year One Implementation Updates by Strategy Aquifer Storage and Recovery Brackish Groundwater Desalination Indirect Potable Reuse Lake Walter E. Long Other Related Efforts Next Steps 2 Water Forward 2024 Supply Strategies Overview Water Forward 2024 Portfolio Utility-Side Water Loss Control • Production meter improvements • Expanded active leak detection programs • Additional analysis of smart meter data Customer Side Water Use Management • Expanded customer incentives for conservation • Use of smart meter data for customer-side leak identification, education, and outreach • Water use budgeting Native & Efficient Landscapes • New landscape ordinances & incentives • • Irrigation efficiency incentives Landscape conversion programs Non-Potable Reuse • Onsite Water Reuse Systems • Decentralized Reclaimed • Centralized Reclaimed 4 Water Supply Storage Aquifer Storage and Recovery Potable Reuse Indirect Potable Reuse New Water Supplies Brackish Groundwater Desalination Lake Walter E. Long On Channel Reservoir Strategies reliant on Colorado River and LCRA supplies 4 Water Supply Strategies 2030 - 2080 Portfolios All volumes in max annual yield, acre-feet per year Strategy 2030 2040 2050 2060 2070 2080 Aquifer Storage and Recovery Lake Walter E. Long Reservoir 0 0 44,500 44,500 44,500 44,500 44,500 18,300 18,300 18,300 18,300 18,300 Indirect Potable Reuse *** *** 22,400 22,400 22,400 22,400 Brackish Groundwater Desalination TOTAL 0 0 0 0 0 20,000 40,000 62,800 85,200 85,200 105,200 125,200 5 Adaptive Management Approach Water Forward 2024 Adaptive Management Approach Update plan every five years using an adaptive management approach Between updates: Implement, evaluate and adjust strategies Plan alternate pathways to respond to lessons learned and changing conditions 7 Adaptive Management Approach Excerpt from the Water Forward 2024 Plan Metric Annual strategy yield Strategy implementation progress Combined lake storage Adaptation Triggers Annual strategy yield falls below target levels for two years in a row Progress falls behind action timeline Combined lake storage remains below 750,000 AF for four months or longer Possible Adaptation Actions • Identify supply project delivery methods and tasks that can be accelerated • Evaluate possible alternative supply project configurations or approaches • Accelerate implementation of emergency supply strategies • Re-evaluate staffing and funding levels for projects …
SPECIAL CALLED MEETING OF THE WATER AND WASTEWATER COMMISSION WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2025 – 4:00 P.M. AUSTIN WATER HEADQUARTERS WALLER CREEK CENTER 625 E 10TH STREET AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the Water and Wastewater Commission may be participating by videoconference. The meeting may be viewed online at: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch- atxn-live Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, contact Vicky Addie, 512-972-0332, vicky.addie@austintexas.gov. CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Chris Maxwell-Gaines, Chair (District 8) Amanda Marzullo (District 3) Alex Navarro (District 2) Shwetha Pandurangi (District 6) Mike Reyes (District 4) Evan Wolstencroft (District 5) Marcela Tuñón, Vice Chair (District 9) William Moriarty (Mayor) Alex Ortiz (District 7) Jesse Penn (District 1) Shannon Trilli (District 10) AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Speakers signed up to speak at the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three- minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Water and Wastewater Commission Regular meeting on October 15, 2025. The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. For assistance, please contact the Liaison or TTY users’ route through 711. A person may request language access accommodations no later than 48 hours before the scheduled meeting. Please call or email Vicky Addie at Austin Water, at 512-972-0332 or vicky.addie@austintexas.gov, to request service or for additional information. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Recommend approval of a contract for Wallace and Tiernan parts for critical equipment for Austin Water with Environmental Improvements, Inc. for an initial term of two years with up to three one-year extension options in an amount not to exceed $1,261,600. Funding: $231,293 is available in the Operating Budget of Austin Water. Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets. Recommend approval of a contract for construction services for the Northwest Area Lift Station Improvements: Four Points Center Lift Station with Facilities Rehabilitation, Inc., in the amount of $3,774,900 plus a $377,490 …
WATER AND WASTEWATER COMMISSION REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES Wednesday, October 15, 2025 The Water and Wastewater Commission convened in a regular called meeting on October 15, 2025 at Waller Creek Center, 625 E 10th Street, Austin, Texas. Commission Members in Attendance: Amanda Marzullo (remote), Chair Chris Maxwell-Gaines, William Moriarty (remote), Alex Ortiz, Shwetha Pandurangi, Mike Reyes (remote), Vice Chair Marcela Tuñón (remote), and Evan Wolstencroft (remote) Commission Members Absent: Alex Navarro, Jesse Penn and Shannon Trilli Chair Maxwell-Gaines called the Water and Wastewater Commission to order at 4:03 p.m. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL No speakers were registered. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approval of minutes from the September 17, 2025 regular meeting of the Water and Wastewater Commission. The minutes were approved with a date correction read into the record on Commissioner Pandurangi’s motion and Commissioner Reyes’ second on a 7-0 vote with three absences and Commissioner Ortiz off the dais. DISCUSSION AND ACTION 2. Recommend approval to authorize a contract for engineering services for the Pilot Knob Supply Water Transmission Main Project for Austin Capital Delivery Services with Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $20,000,000. Funding: $20,000,000 is available in the Capital Budget of Austin Water. Recommended on Commissioner Pandurangi’s motion and Commissioner Reyes’ second on a 7-0 vote with three absences and Commissioner Ortiz off the dais. 3. Recommend approval to authorize a rotation list set of twelve contracts for engineering services for the 2025 Small Scale Water and Wastewater Pipeline Engineering Services Rotation List with Quiddity Engineering, LLC, Weston Solutions, Inc., Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., Tetra Tech, Inc., DAVCAR, Inc., dba DAVCAR Engineering Services, Riley Mountain Engineering, LLC, Martinez, Wright & Mendez, Inc., dba MWM DesignGroup, AtkinsRealis, USA, Inc., LJA Engineering, Inc., BGE, Inc., dba Brown & Gay Engineers, Inc., Doucet & Associates, Inc., and Halff Associates, Inc., for total contract amount not to exceed $26,000,000, divided among the firms. Funding: $26,000,000 is available in the Capital Budget of the Austin Water. Recommended on Commissioner Ortiz’s motion and Chair Maxwell-Gaines’ second on a 6-0 vote with Commissioners Pandurangi and Reyes recusing and three absences. 4. Recommend approval to authorize a contract for finance consulting services for Austin Water with NewGen Strategies and Solutions, LLC., for an initial term of one-year with up to four one-year extension options in an amount not to exceed $340,000. Funding: $180,000 is available in the Operating Budget of Austin Water. …
Item 2 Water & Wastewater Commission: November 12, 2025 Council: November 20, 2025 Posting Language ..Title Recommend approval to authorize a contract for Wallace and Tiernan parts for critical water and wastewater equipment for Austin Water with Environmental Improvements, Inc. for an initial term of two years with up to three one-year extension options in an amount not to exceed $1,261,600. Funding: $231,293 is available in the Operating Budget of Austin Water. Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets. ..Body Lead Department Austin Financial Services. Client Department(s) Austin Water. Fiscal Note Funding in the amount of $231,293 is available in the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Operating Budget of Austin Water. Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets. Procurement Language: Sole Source. MBE/WBE: Sole source contracts are exempt from the City Code Chapter 2-9B (Minority-Owned and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Procurement Program); therefore, no subcontracting goals were established. Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action: November 12 , 2025 - To be reviewed by the Austin Water and Wastewater Commission. Additional Backup Information: The contract will provide proprietary Wallace and Tiernan, industry-standard parts for critical equipment such as chlorinators, ammoniators, and Encore 700 pumps used to feed numerous treatment chemicals used at water and wastewater plants. Environmental Improvements Inc. is the exclusive distributor and authorized service provider representative for Evoqua Water Technologies, LLC, for equipment service and sales of aftermarket parts to municipal customers. The contract replaces a contract expiring August 4, 2027. The contract is being replaced early due to low remaining contract authority. Spend was higher than expected due to unexpected failures of actuators and ammoniators. Requested authorization is based on historical spending and departmental estimates of future needs. The contractor is the current provider of these goods. If a contract is not approved, it will prevent repair and maintenance of critical equipment, and interrupt the water and wastewater treatment process. Item 2 Water & Wastewater Commission: November 12, 2025 Council: November 20, 2025 Contract Details: Contract Term Initial Term Optional Extension 1 Optional Extension 2 Optional Extension 3 Total Length of Term 2 years 1 year 1 year 1 year 5 years Contract Authorization $ 504,640 $ 252,320 $ 252,320 $ 252,320 $1,261,600 Note: Contract Authorization amounts are based on the City’s estimated annual usage.
Item 3 Water & Wastewater Commission: November 12, 2025 Council: November 20, 2025 Posting Language ..Title Recommend approval to authorize a contract for construction services for the Northwest Area Lift Station Improvements: Four Points Center Lift Station for Austin Capital Delivery Services with Facilities Rehabilitation, Inc., in the amount of $3,774,900 plus a $377,490 contingency for a total contract amount not to exceed $4,152,390. Funding: $4,152,390 is available in the Capital Budget of Austin Water. ..Body Lead Department Austin Financial Services. Managing Department Austin Capital Delivery Services. Amount and Source of Funding Funding is available in the Capital Budget of Austin Water. Procurement Language: Austin Financial Services issued an Invitation for Bids solicitation IFB 6100 CLMC1075 for these goods and services. The solicitation was issued on June 16, 2025, and closed on July 17, 2025. Of the eight offers received, the bid submitted by the recommended contractor was the lowest responsive bid received. A complete solicitation package, including a tabulation of the bids received, is available for viewing on the City’s website. This information can currently be found at https://financeonline.austintexas.gov/afo/account_services/solicitation/solicitation_details.cfm?sid=141652 . MBE/WBE: This contract will be awarded in compliance with City Code Chapter 2-9A (Minority-Owned and Women- Owned Business Enterprise Procurement Program) by meeting the goals with 98.42% MBE and 1.58% WBE participation. Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action: November 12, 2025 – To be reviewed by the Water and Wastewater Commission. Additional Backup Information: This project will include improvements to a lift station identified in the Northwest Lift Station Long Range Planning Engineering Study to improve the wastewater system in Bull Creek wastewater basin. The lift station was built in 1998 as a wet well duplex station and requires rehabilitation to extend its useful life, ensuring the lift station operates in good working order and minimize ongoing maintenance costs. This project consists of rehabilitating an existing lift station to provide reliable service. The rehabilitated lift station design includes wet well coatings, valves, pumps, odor control equipment, electrical, communication, emergency generator, and resilience improvements to meet current City standards. Construction of these improvements will allow Austin Water to continue providing wastewater services to the increasing population in the area, as well as reducing noxious odors impacting the community. Due to the potential for unknown subsurface conditions a 10% contingency in funding has been included to allow for the expeditious processing of any change orders to cover any unforeseen construction costs …
Item 4 Water & Wastewater Commission: November 12, 2025 Council: November 20, 2025 Posting Language ..Title Recommend approval to authorize an amendment to the contract for engineering services for the Center Street Pump Station Replacement and Electrical Improvements project with CDM Smith, Inc., in the amount of $6,000,000 for a revised total contract amount not to exceed $12,000,000 Funding: $6,000,000 is available in the Capital Budget of Austin Water. ..Body Lead Department Austin Financial Services. Managing Department Austin Capital Delivery Services. Amount and Source of Funding Funding is available in the Capital Budget of Austin Water. Procurement Language: Contract Amendment. MBE / WBE: Note: This contract will be awarded in compliance with City Code 2-9B (Minority-Owned and Women- Owned Business Enterprise Procurement Program). Current participation to date is 21.23% MBE and 23.78% WBE. Prior Council Action: January 26, 2023 – Council approved a professional service agreement with CDM Smith, Inc. for the Center Street Pump Station Replacement and Electrical Improvements project. Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action: November 12, 2025 – To be reviewed by the Water and Wastewater Commission January 18, 2023 – Recommended by the Water and Wastewater Commission on a vote of 6-0 vote Commissioner Michel’s motion, Chair Lee’s second, with Commissioner Penn recusing, Commissioners Musgrove and Turrieta absent and two vacancies. Additional Backup Information: The Center Street Reservoir and Pump Station Facility is part of Austin Water’s water distribution system consisting of water storage facilities, pump stations, and water pipes. The Center Street Pump Station moves water from the Central Zone of the distribution system to the south portion of the Central Zone. The Center Street Reservoir and Pump Station Facility shares site access with an EMS station, a City of Austin fuel station, and Austin Water’s Electrical and Instrumentation & Control Maintenance shop. The existing pump station and electrical substation have exceeded their useful life and require replacement to meet current Austin Water standards. The project is currently in the design phase, where the consultant, CDM Smith, Inc., is designing a new pump station and making specific improvements to the site. Item 4 Water & Wastewater Commission: November 12, 2025 Council: November 20, 2025 The services to be provided under this amendment are for continued design and bid phase engineering services to support the construction contract. It is anticipated that the new facility will be located entirely within the existing fenced area. Once the construction …
Item 5 Water & Wastewater Commission: November 12, 2025 Council: December 11, 2025 Posting Language ..Title Recommend approval of a resolution authorizing the defeasance of certain outstanding Water and Wastewater System Revenue Bonds, including authorizing the execution of an escrow agreement, and related documents. Funding: $46,633,211 is available in the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Operating Budget of the Combined Utility Revenue Bond Redemption Fund. ..Body Lead Department Austin Financial Services. Fiscal Note Funding is available in the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Operating Budget of the Combined Utility Revenue Bond Redemption Fund. Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action: November 12, 2025 – Item to be reviewed by the Water and Wastewater Commission. Additional Backup Information: A defeasance is a method of using available cash to pay off outstanding debt. The cash is placed in an escrow account with an escrow agent to make principal and interest payments on the required payment date for the bonds being deceased to the redemption date. Once the escrow is funded, the debt obligations payable from the escrow are no longer secured by or payable from the revenues initially pledged to their payment and the debt is legally and financially retired. The proposed related defeasance item seeks authorization to defense, or pay off, certain maturities of the City’s outstanding Water and Wastewater System Revenue Bonds. This process allows Austin Water to remove the debt from its books, which reduces debt levels, reduces interest, and improves debt service coverage by lowering the burden of debt service payments in the short-term. Also, this proposed defeasance action is in direct relation to achieving Water and Wastewater System rate stability over the next few years. The source of funds for the defeasance is Impact Fee/Capital Recovery Fee (CRF), Austin Water operating funds that includes cash collected from the developers of Indian Hills and Whisper Valley pursuant to the 2007 Cost Reimbursement Agreement. Impact fee/CRF collections are restricted in use by Texas Local Government Code Chapter 395.012. Allowable uses include paying costs of constructing capital or facility improvements, and pledging for payment of debt service issued to finance capital or facility improvements identified in the Impact Fee Capital Improvements Plan 5-Year Update. For this defeasance transaction, PFM Financial Advisors LLC will serve as Municipal Advisor, McCall, Parkhurst & Horton L.L.P. will serve as bond counsel, and The Arbitrage Group will serve as serving as Verification Agent.
Item 6 Water & Wastewater Commission: November 12, 2025 Council: December 11, 2025 Posting Language ..Title Recommend approval of an ordinance amending the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Austin Water Operating Fund (Ordinance No. 20250815-005) to increase transfers out to the Combined Utility Revenue Bond Redemption Fund by $16,633,211; and amending the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Combined Utility Revenue Bond Redemption Fund (Ordinance No. 20250815-005) to increase transfers in by $16,633,211 and increasing appropriations by $16,633,211 to defease and redeem outstanding Water and Wastewater System Revenue Refunding Bonds. Funding: Funding is available in the ending balances of the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Austin Water operating funds. ..De Lead Department Austin Water. Fiscal Note Funding is available in the ending balances of the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Austin Water operating funds. Reduction of these ending balance will maintain Austin Water’s compliance with relevant City financial policies. Prior Council Action: August 15, 2025 – Council approved Ordinance No. 20250815-005 adopting the Austin Water Operating Budget for the Fiscal Year 2025-2026. Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action: November 12, 2025 – To be reviewed by the Water and Wastewater Commission. Additional Backup Information: This budget amendment is related to the defeasance item that would authorize Austin Water to pay off certain maturities of the City’s outstanding Water and Wastewater System Revenue Bonds. A defeasance is a method of using available cash to pay off outstanding debt. The cash is placed in an escrow account held by a trustee to make principal and interest payments on the required payment date for the bonds being defeased until redemption or maturity. Once the defeasance is funded, the obligations payable from the escrow are no longer secured by or payable from the revenues initially pledged to their payment. The proposed related defeasance item seeks authorization to pay off certain maturities of the City’s outstanding Water and Wastewater System Revenue Bonds. This process allows Austin Water to remove the debt from its books, which reduces debt levels, reduces interest expense, and improves debt service coverage by lowering the burden of debt service payments in the short-term. Also, this proposed defeasance action is in direct relation to achieving a Water and Wastewater System rate stability over the next few years. The total source of funds for the defeasance of $46,633,211 will be provided from a combination of $30,000,000 in Impact Fee/ Capital Recovery Fee (CRF) collections, 16,633,211 in Austin Water Operating Funds, of which …
Item 7 Water & Wastewater Commission: November 12, 2025 Council: December 11, 2025 Posting Language ..Title Recommend approval to authorize a contract for engineering services for Lime Sustainability and Water Treatment Process Evaluation for Austin Water with Hazen and Sawyer, D.P.C., in an amount not to exceed $1,100,000. Funding: $1,100,000 is available in the Capital Budget of Austin Water. ..Body Lead Department Austin Financial Services. Managing Department Austin Capital Delivery Services. Amount and Source of Funding Funding of $1,100,000 is available in the Capital Budget of Austin Water. Procurement Language: Austin Financial Services issued a Request for Qualifications solicitation RFQS CLMP387 for these services. The solicitation was issued on June 28, 2025, and closed on August 6, 2025. Of the Six offers received, the recommended contractor submitted the best evaluated responsive offer. A complete solicitation package, including a log of offers received, is available for viewing on the City’s website. This information can currently be found at: https://financeonline.austintexas.gov/afo/account_services/solicitation/solicitation_details.cfm?sid=142729. MBE / WBE: This contract will be awarded in compliance with City Code Chapter 2-9B (Minority-Owned and Women- Owned Business Enterprise Procurement Program). No goals were established for this solicitation. Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action: November 12, 2025 – To be reviewed by the Water and Wastewater Commission. Additional Backup Information: As part of Austin Water’s (AW) ongoing efforts to enhance operational resilience, this study will evaluate AW’s existing water treatment processes and explore alternatives for long-term sustainability. AW’s three water treatment plants – Davis, Ullrich, and Handcox – utilize lime softening in the treatment process to remove naturally-occurring calcium and magnesium in order to reduce hardness in the finished water. For decades, AW’s treatment process has produced high-quality drinking water that remains consistent throughout our distribution system, serving more than a million customers. The lime softening process requires frequent deliveries of large quantities of lime and produces significant lime residuals that must be dewatered and disposed off-site. AW maintains contracts with two vendors to supply lime and owns and operates a disposal site for residuals. Risks to AW’s operational resilience include increasing supply chain volatility, rising material costs, and storage and disposal space limitations. This project includes a desktop evaluation and feasibility study of the existing treatment process and several alternatives, including reusing spent lime and treatment options that do not use lime. This study will build on previous evaluations and explore innovative processes that may now be viable. The …
Item 8 Water & Wastewater Commission: November 12, 2025 Council: November 20, 2025 Posting Language ..Title Recommend approval to execute a collaboration agreement with stakeholders related to field testing for an Aquifer Storage & Recovery project in Bastrop County. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact. Should the project move forward, the future financial impact will be determined as specific funding needs are presented to City Council in alignment with Austin Water’s 5-year Capital Improvement Plan. ..De Lead Department Austin Water. Fiscal Note This item has no fiscal impact. Should the project move forward, the future financial impact will be determined as specific funding needs are presented to City Council in alignment with Austin Water’s 5-year Capital Improvement Plan. Prior Council Action: November 21, 2024 - Council approved the updated Water Forward Plan. August 27, 2020 - Council approved a contract with HDR Engineering, Inc. for engineering services for an Aquifer Storage and Recovery Pilot and Program Management in an amount not to exceed $6,000,000. November 29, 2018 - Council approved the Water Forward Plan. Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action: November 12, 2025 - To be reviewed by the Water and Wastewater Commission. Additional Backup Information: This action is to enter into a collaboration agreement with stakeholders related to Aquifer Storage & Recovery (ASR) field testing in Bastrop County. After extensive scientific study through a desktop analysis phase that began in 2022, Austin Water identified a portion of the Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer in Bastrop County as a location to conduct exploratory field testing for an ASR project. The location was identified based on favorable geotechnical characteristics of the aquifer that provide the potential ability to safely store and retrieve large quantities of water. ASR is one of several water supply strategies in the Water Forward Plan, Austin’s 100-year water plan. The proposed project would store drinking water supply, which is sourced from the Colorado River and Highland Lakes upstream of Austin and treated at one of three water treatment plants. During times of water availability, water would be piped to the ASR project location to be stored deep underground. Before being stored in the aquifer, the water would be further treated to be compatible with native groundwater. When stored water is needed, it would be pumped back to Austin Water’s system. A Bastrop County ASR stakeholder group was formed in April 2025. Nine stakeholder meetings were held through September 30, …
November 11, 2025 The Honorable Kirk Watson Mayor, City of Austin P.O. Box 1088 Austin, TX 78767 RE: Request for Reconsideration of Austin’s Proposed Bastrop County ASR Project and MOU Dear Mayor Watson and Members of the Austin City Council; I am writing to urge the City of Austin to immediately reconsider its plan to move forward with the proposed Aquifer Storage & Recovery project in Bastrop County and the signing of the related MOU. The people of Bastrop County could not have been clearer in their opposition. Residents have packed every meeting, submitted countless comments, and raised legitimate concerns—but their voices have fallen on deaf ears at City Hall. The root issue is trust. From the day this project was announced in 2021, Austin has struggled to earn it. A lack of early communication and an approach where Austin Water dictated the terms rather than engaged as a partner created deep local skepticism. When Austin did come to the table, it only did so after I filed legislation to restrict this project. The community meetings that followed did not repair trust or provide full answers. That is why not a single elected official in Bastrop County has supported the MOU or the ASR project behind it—a fact carries real weight. Crossing county lines to inject treated water into an aquifer that serves another community is not responsible planning. It is overreach, plain and simple, and it plants a permanent flag of authority in a county that has made its objections known. The truth is: Austin has other options. The City can address the almost 30,000 acre-feet of water losses identified in its own audit, pursue smaller but viable sites within Travis County, and manage its resources responsibly without imposing on Bastrop County landowners. Signing this MOU would commit Austin taxpayers to millions of dollars in spending for a project that faces unanimous opposition from the citizens of Bastrop County. I have already passed legislation to block this overreach once and will continue to use every legislative and lawful tool available to stop it permanently. Moving forward now would only invite additional roadblocks and waste more of Austin’s taxpayer dollars on a project that will inevitably be stopped. The Legislature has already demonstrated strong interest in clarifying how cross-jurisdictional ASR projects are handled, and any attempt to advance a project with zero local support will only accelerate that scrutiny. For …
