exTRA by the Trinity River Authority of Texas

Placing more than 10,000 athletes in one living space has certainly increased the wastewater flowing out of the suburb of Saint-Denis, and it raises a question that the Parisian protest called to mind in June: Is it really safe for swimmers to take a dip in the Seine?

Milann Guckian has one well on her property just north of New Braunfels. “This is my only source of water. That’s it,” Guckian said about the small pump and the nearby reservoir.

Earlier this month, Congressman Joaquin Castro secured $11 million for community projects around San Antonio, the university said. One million of those $11 million is set to be allocated to Dr. Davida Smyth’s efforts to track harmful wastewater contaminants around the city.

Wise County officials are concerned that a proposed construction waste landfill planned for a rapidly growing near Boyd and Aurora could affect the West Fork of the Trinity River, a major water source for Fort Worth and other cities.

The city says this project has been in planning since approximately 2008, and received the green light from the City Council in June. It is a significant milestone coming after years of planning and collaboration between city officials, engineers, community stakeholders and federal agencies.

In March, Sweeny staff submitted a grant application to the Texas Water Development Board for almost $40 million to overhaul the city’s water system. Unfortunately, the city did not rank in the top 10 percent of projects, missing the cutoff by just two points, City Manager Lindsay Koskiniemi said.

The City of Taylor is no longer under any water restrictions after it was temporarily placed under Stage 3 restrictions following pump failures earlier this month.

The City of Marshall has been awarded $11.35 million from the Texas Water Development Board to assist with necessary upgrades needed for the wastewater treatment plant. The TWDB says the city will use the assistance, from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, “to finance the planning, acquisition, design and construction of a wastewater system improvement project,” including upgrading 20 lift stations and replacing about 2,000 linear feet of force mains and 10,000 linear feet of interceptor sewer lines.

Homeowners in a new subdivision located off Prairie Ridge Blvd and Highway 287 said they dealt with murky and smelly waters for more than a week. The water throughout the neighborhood is provided by the Ellis County Fresh Water Supply District No. 1. However, it's sourced from much further away.

South Shore Drainage Project proposed a storm pump in the Galveston area that could bring relief to residents who withstand hurricanes and rainstorms.

Lake Somerville levels are resting at 2.5 feet above its conservation pool level. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is releasing water to account for the increase.

The filters work to ensure that the water is within quality standards and can filter 54 million gallons of water per day.

East Texas landowners made themselves heard at a public meeting Thursday night in Van Zandt County hosted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. They were there to ask questions and voice concerns about a proposed permit of land use of biosolids in Mabank.

About $45 million will go to Texas towns with fewer than 1,000 residents — a boon for municipalities without a viable tax base.

The city began the first portion of the project in April after decades of issues. Recently, the Sherman City Council approved a $264,000 change order to add hundreds of feet of water line to the sewer contract. 

In a press release, the City said this is the second stage of their year-round water use management program. The second stage kicks in when the combined capacity between Lake Fort Phantom Hill and Hubbard Creek Reservoir is between 40-50%.

Ivanhoe officials are waiting on funding and approval of plans to repair the Lake Ivanhoe dam. Ready to make his stay at Lake Ivanhoe a permanent one, David McIntyre received the keys to a water-front home in 2012, but his dream was cut short.

Fresh water is about as scarce as it’s ever been in the Rio Grande Valley. Water levels in the Rio Grande itself, as well as reservoirs along the border, are nearing historic lows. And there are many hot, rainless days still left on the calendar.

Besides mounting heat, for the last few summers, Austinites have had to deal with another danger: toxic algae. Since 2019, at least five dogs have died as a result of ingesting toxins in Lady Bird Lake, and toxic algae has been found every year since at Red Bud Isle and Festival Beach, as well as around the Highland Lakes and Barton Creek.

A boil water notice has been issued for some residents in San Augustine Wednesday morning. According to a press release, the TCEQ has required San Augustine Rural Public Water System to notify customers on the Bland Lake Water System to boil their water before consumption due to an electric outage.

The possibility of flooding is leading to the City of Llano closing some streets west of the downtown area Tuesday afternoon. Floodgates at nearby dams are also being opened Wednesday morning to release storm runoff.

The City of Broaddus, two weeks after Beryl hit, is having a hard time getting back on their feet and have very few options for help. Eight homes were damaged during the storm but the county did not meet the threshold for FEMA’s individual assistance – leaving homeowners who were impacted without that line of help.