When communities experience a population boom, they can be faced with utility infrastructure needs. This is the situation for the City of Kyle, Texas – one of the fastest-growing cities in the state. Located about 20 miles south of Austin, the City of Kyle selected B&N to lead a Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) expansion project to proactively address continued population growth and meet current Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) regulations.
The expansion will increase the WWTP from 3.0 million gallons per day (MGD) Average Daily Flow (ADF) to 4.5 MGD ADF. To accommodate Kyle's projected population growth over the next 15 to 20 years, the expansion is designed to be adaptable and expandable.
The $28.9 million project is divided into three phases – planning, design and construction. Over the three phases, B&N's services include:
- Preliminary and final design to include the headworks (screening, flow handling, and influent lift station), secondary and tertiary treatment, solids handling and a new operations building
- Process modeling and hydraulic analysis (BioWin model)
- Evaluation of advanced treatment technologies such as UV disinfection and Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR)
- Mechanical engineering and architectural services
- Design of a secondary access road
- Stormwater improvements
Site improvements include a flood wall, new access road and operations building complete with stormwater best management practices to be eligible for grant funds. This project is currently on schedule and is on track to finish construction in 2022.
After working with B&N to complete the treatment plant expansion, the City considered additional improvements. These considerations prompted the City to retain B&N to provide design and construction administration services for additional dewatering facilities, including a new dewatering building, new sludge storage enclosure, equipment selection, HVAC, site work modifications and access road plans.
Conscientious of its community, the City committed to complete improvements with Low Impact Development (LID) best management practices. B&N is helping the City advance the implementation of LID in the City of Kyle's wastewater treatment facility to help reduce runoff nonpoint source (NPS) pollution and meet water quality standards set by the Plum Creek Watershed Protection Plan. Features set for installation include a rainwater harvesting system, permeable pavement, a bioswale and xeriscaping.