June 11, 2026 - The Brazos River Authority Board of Directors, at its recent meeting, authorized the issuance of bonds to fund part of a project vital to maintaining an adequate water supply in Lake Georgetown.
The BRA operates the Williamson County Raw Water Line (WCRRWL), a 28-mile-long, 48-inch-diameter transmission pipeline that transfers raw water from Stillhouse Hollow Lake to Lake Georgetown for its customers. At the June 8, 2026, meeting, the Board voted to issue up to $9 million in contract revenue bonds to complete the design phase and begin construction of an expansion project.
The Williamson County Regional Raw Waterline is operated under a cost-reimbursable contract with the cities of Georgetown and Round Rock and the Brushy Creek Municipal Utility District. To date, the customers have been funding the design portion of this project. The project has now entered a phase to issue debt to reimburse those customers, said Michele Giroir, BRA chief financial officer.
The pipeline was completed in 2002, and additional pumping capacity was always anticipated to fully utilize it. The first pump expansion in 2011 added two 2,500-horsepower pumps to the two 1,250-horsepower pumps already in place, increasing the pumping capacity to 40 million gallons per day.
The Phase 3 Pump Project is the final expansion of the Williamson County Regional Raw Water Line. It will replace all four existing pumps with new 3,000-horsepower pumps, increasing the pipeline's pumping capacity to 56 million gallons per day.
In other actions, the Board also agreed to continue funding and supporting the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's public awareness campaign to combat the spread of invasive species in the Brazos River Basin.
The Board authorized $50,000, with $10,000 to be provided in fiscal years 2027, 2028, 2029, 2030, and 2031 for the campaign to stop the spread of invasive species and the threat they pose to our state's aquatic ecosystems, private property, and water-related infrastructure, such as water supply systems.
For the past 13 years, the BRA has supported this cause, said Aaron Abel, BRA water services manager. TPWD uses the funds for educational signs, radio public service announcements, online advertising, painted boat ramps and signage, and other educational services to better educate Texas boaters, Abel said.
Also at the meeting, the Board authorized the submission of an application to the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) for up to $21 million through the Water Supply and Infrastructure Grant program created by Texas House Bill 500. The funds requested would be used to construct the Phase II expansion of the BRA’s potable water treatment project, the East Williamson County Regional Water System.
Texas House Bill 500, adopted by the 89th Legislative session, set aside over $1 billion for the TWDB to administer as a one-time funding opportunity to support water supply and water infrastructure projects. If awarded, the grant would fund about 13% of the total estimated construction cost.
The TWDB will announce who will receive this funding in the fall of 2026.
Listen to Episode 16 of the BRA’s podcast Unpacking the Brazos River to hear more about the project.
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