exTRA by the Trinity River Authority of Texas

Friendswood is moving forward with approximately $10 million in critical water infrastructure projects, fully funded through federal COVID-19 relief money, officials announced at the December City Council meeting. The projects include a new ground storage tank at Surface Water Plant No. 1 and installation of a 24-inch water transmission main, both aimed at enhancing water capacity and reliability for the growing community.

On Monday, Governor Abbott's office released a statement outlining the weather concerns that are expected to impact the state over the coming week, and the services being activated.

Wastewater plants are failing to remove a group of potentially toxic chemicals before pumping treated water into rivers and lakes — and climate change may be making the situation even worse, a new report finds.

At a special-called meeting Dec. 30, City Council members approved a 30-year agreement with GateHouse Water LLC. The decision allows the city to purchase 18,500 acre-feet of water per year—or 16.5 million gallons per day—from the Simsboro Aquifer in Lee County, according to city documents.

The final numbers are out. To the surprise of very few, 2024 turned out to be the warmest year ever in Austin by 2.7°. The 72.7° mean temperature easily surpassed last year by one-half of a degree.

Construction is expected to begin after March and will take 30 months to complete; Mexico will pay $20 million for Phase 1

The Abilene City Council recently revoked the temporary ordinance suspending fluoridation and passed the first reading of permanent fluoridation termination. The action was passed at the Dec. 19 regular meeting as part of the consent agenda, which received an unanimous vote.

Streets in Beaumont and China saw flooding with twisters spotted in Dayton, Lake Houston and Wharton County, in the El Campo area.

The Texas Water Development Board awarded the city a grant for $8.3 million. The rest of the money is from a $7.1 million loan the city approved early this week. The city’s Superintendent of Utilities Rick Gilson said funds will be used to update 40-year-old systems at the wastewater treatment plant.

Johnson County’s newest state representative, Helen Kerwin, R-Cleburne, filed her first bill Friday targeting an environmental problem that has struck her county: PFAS contamination in sewage sludge-based fertilizers. Kerwin said House Bill 1674, could reduce the presence of PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, in Texas farms and ranches that use fertilizers made from treated sewage. PFAS, often called “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down and can persist in water and soil indefinitely, are known to cause serious health and environmental risks.

City Manager Modesto Mundo will present the ordinance calling for $12 million in infrastructure and drainage projects and $6 million for facilities, which primarily focus on the police department’s building and Fire Station No. 1.

Telsa's new lithium plant has nearly finished construction but faces a new obstacle - water supply. The new factory in which Tesla CEO Elon Musk hopes to produce lithium has not signed a water contractor.

The city of Collinsville said they are working to fix to water pressure problem in town. According to a social media post, Mayor Derek Kays said the freezing temperatures affected the downtown well and tower, impacting the water pressure in town.

According to a news release, San Antonio Water Systems estimated that more than 100,000 gallons of domestic wastewater spilled around 7:15 p.m. Sunday from the Steven M. Clouse Water Recycling Center, located at 3495 Valley Road.

Officials at the Enchanted Rock State Natural Area closed 2024 with a water warning for the new year, citing ongoing drought and scarcity in Central Texas.

In water management, digital twins can provide crucial support, because multiple factors play important roles and real-time monitoring is a significant consideration. An example for the use of virtual treatment plants comes from Trinity River Authority (TRA) of Texas, which covers 18,000 square miles and serves 39 customer cities with safe drinking water.

The 30-year-old Stillhouse Branch Wastewater Treatment Plant is undergoing improvements. It not only serves the City of Gatesville but also the prisons located north of town.

On Friday, the water temperatures dropped below 70 degrees and biologists released about 600 rainbow trout in the Concho River. The most rainbow trout one person can legally catch is five a day.

This year has been marked by concerning developments in the virus’ spread, including widespread detections in wastewater and mutations observed in the virus.