Texas Board Funds 15 Water and Wastewater Projects
"The TWDB has now committed more than $8 billion in financial assistance since the first cycle of SWIFT funding in 2015," Board Chairman Peter Lake said about the $1.9 billion in financial assistance approved July 26. "The high demand is a testament to the program's success in implementing the state water plan."
The Texas Water Development Board approved financial assistance totaling $21,050,000 on July 26 for water and wastewater system projects, two in South Texas cities and one being a rural project. The board also approved $1,955,800,000 in assistance from the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT) program that will go to 12 project sponsors across the state.
The three projects sharing the $21 million are:
- The city of McAllen, $19 million for water and wastewater system improvements
- The city of Falfurrias, $415,000 for a wastewater system improvement project
- The Lone Star Regional Water Authority, serving Williamson and Bell counties north of Austin, $1,635,000 for water system improvements
The SWIFT funding is available to projects that are included in the 2017 State Water Plan. Projects recommended July 26 included new wells, transmission lines, and a large regional water supply project, all of which are recommended water management strategies in that plan.
"Moving forward with state water plan projects is critical for the future of Texas," said TWDB Board member Kathleen Jackson. "It's exciting to see communities embrace a variety of projects, both large and small, and turn to the SWIFT program to meet their current and future water supply needs."
"The TWDB has now committed more than $8 billion in financial assistance since the first cycle of SWIFT funding in 2015," added TWDB Board Chairman Peter Lake. "The high demand is a testament to the program's success in implementing the state water plan. As always, the board will continue to actively manage the program to ensure it's available for Texas communities for decades to come."
SWIFT was established by the Texas Legislature and voters in 2013 to fund projects in the water plan. The program was created by a one-time transfer of $2 billion from the state's Rainy Day Fund; that money will be leveraged with revenue bonds during the next 50 years to finance approximately $27 billion in water supply projects. "The SWIFT program is doing exactly what is was intended to do—helping secure long-term water supplies for Texas communities," said TWDB Board member Brooke Paup. "There isn't a one-size fits all approach for Texas, which is why project sponsors of all sizes are turning to the SWIFT program for financial assistance."
The board is the state agency charged with collecting and disseminating water-related data, assisting with regional planning, and preparing the state water plan for the development of Texas' water resources. The board administers cost-effective financial assistance programs for the construction of water supply, wastewater treatment, flood control, and agricultural water conservation projects.
Among the project sponsors to whom 2018 SWIFT financial assistance will be distributed are:
- The city of Spring Valley Village (Harris County), $2.5 million for a groundwater project
- The Brushy Creek Regional Water Authority (Williamson and Travis counties), $15,740,000 for a water supply projectThe North Texas Municipal Water District, $300 million for a water supply project
- The Upper Trinity Regional Water District, $42,070,000 for a water supply project$1,420,635,000 for a large regional water supply project for the Houston area
- The Guadalupe Blanco River Authority (Guadalupe, Comal, Hays, and Caldwell counties), $165,855,000 for a water supply project