Background

Water service coverage is currently estimated at 97%, while sewer service coverage is only 86%. However, there is currently no wastewater treatment, resulting in the discharge of approximately 350,000 gallons a day of untreated sewage into the Alamo River, which eventually flows into the Rio Grande, posing a health risk for downstream residents on
both sides of the U.S.-Mexican border.

Moreover, residents not connected to the sewer system discharge their wastewater into open-air ditches, cesspools or latrines, which may contaminate soil and groundwater, as well as pose an immediate and direct health risk to local residents.

To remedy this situation, the water utility is proposing a project to expand the wastewater collection system and construct a wastewater treatment plant. In addition, water service will be extended to 100% of the population.

Description

The project consists of the following main components:

• Expansion of the water distribution system to currently unserved areas, including construction of 19,255 ft of pipeline and installation of 200 new residential water hook-ups;
• Expansion of the wastewater collection system, including construction of 31,466 ft of pipeline and installation of 581 new sewer hook-ups;
• Construction of a force main and pump station to convey the collected wastewater to the wastewater treatment plant; and
• Construction of a wastewater treatment plant with the capacity to treat 0.46 million gallons a day, including two anaerobic lagoons, two facultative lagoons and a maturation pond. The treated effluent will be used for agricultural purposes.

Benefits

This project will reduce environmental and health hazards associated with inadequate sewage disposal by eliminating a source of raw wastewater discharges into the Rio Grande, thus providing a safer and healthier water supply for downstream residents in both the U.S. and Mexico. In addition, the project will extend safe drinking water services to 100% of the local population.