Bastrop eyes $5M wastewater tech upgrade

A new wastewater treatment technology that can produce reusable water may soon help Bastrop address an under-performing treatment plant and meet stricter environmental standards.

City Manager Sylvia Carrillo-Trevino told council March 24 upgrading Wastewater Treatment Plant No. 3 would allow treated discharge to be reused for irrigation or commercial purposes. The move would also bring the facility into compliance with new Texas Commission on Environmental Quality phosphate limits.

“It is a smart approach to keep the drinking water to the residents and keep treated effluent for industry,” Carrillo-Trevino said. “If I can treat wastewater and put it back to use, we begin to rely less on the aquifer and put less strain on the water supply.”