Brushy Creek Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion

The east regional wastewater plant experienced a significant increase in the amount of flow it was receiving in spring 2022. The City of Round Rock announced in early March 2022 that the increase put the plant above its permitted discharge levels for volume of wastewater. This event, which is referred to as a “hydraulic overload,” also caused the plant’s effluent, which is released into Brushy Creek, to contain levels of total suspended solids (TSS) and E. coli that were above the permitted levels set by TCEQ.

An update on the system conditions and East Plant Expansion was presented to City Council on Thursday, July 28, 2022 by Utilities and Environmental Services Director Michael Thane. Thane reported that, at this time, conditions have improved due to the City’s efforts to mitigate additional flow to the East Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant. Watch the video

The following notable actions have been taken by the City:

• Inspected over 42 miles of regional interceptors and local collection lines (March-May 2022) and making repairs as needed.
• Brought the West Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant online to treat between 1.5-2 MGD of wastewater (April-May 2022)
• Along with its partner cities, continuing construction of an expansion at the East Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant that will increase the treatment plant’s capacity to 30 MGD. The plant expansion will be completed in September 2023, and new infrastructure will be brought online as it is finished to provide more plant capacity (5 MGD of additional capacity was brought online in early June 2022).
• Met with representatives with TCEQ and other owner cities to discuss action taken so far and future plans on Friday, May 27, 2022 and Tuesday, June 28, 2022.  
• The City contracted a third party to conduct water quality monitoring along Brushy Creek on six days within a three-week period during the month of June. A letter with the results of that monitoring was sent to the City on July 19, 2022.
• The Brushy Creek Regional Wastewater System installed additional flow meters in various locations throughout the regional collection system to enhance monitoring and management of wastewater flows coming into the interceptor network from the various Cities served by the regional system.
• On Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, Round Rock City Council authorized K. Friese & Associates, Inc. to complete a master plan for the Brushy Creek Regional Wastewater System, including all owner cities. The process will collect current data throughout the system, perform a hydraulic model for the regional system, perform a capacity analysis of the current system and develop a long-range capital improvement plan for the treatment and collection systems based on flow and population projections, including estimated probable costs and the timing for the projects. This process is ongoing.
• On Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022, Round Rock City Council authorized a contract with Plummer Associates, Inc. to incorporate additional tertiary filters as part of the East Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant’s ongoing expansion. The purchase of the filters will be considered at the July 27, 2023 City Council meeting.

• • Below is the most up-to-date estimated schedule for implementing tertiary filters:
    • Preliminary Engineering Report — 4 months (completed June 2023)
    • Design — 8 months (expected completion April 2024)
    • Bidding — 2 months (expected completion June 2024)
    • Construction/Installation — 9 months (expected completion March 2025)
• City officials approved a contract with Plummer and Associates, Inc. on Nov. 2, 2023, for design of the plant’s next expansion to 40 MGD. Below is an estimated schedule for implementing the expansion:
  •  Design — 5 months (expected completion February 2025)
  • Construction — 2 years (expected completion June 2027)
• City of Round Rock officials continue to maintain communication with the TCEQ regarding the actions listed above.