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Infrastructure Reliability

Keeping our systems running to serve Austin Water’s 1 million customers day-in and day-out takes strategic investments and planning. We consider population growth, affordability for our customers, life-cycle costs, and system reliability as we replace and improve Austin's water and wastewater infrastructure.

Our Infrastructure by the Numbers:

• More than 3,800 miles of water mains
• More than 2,900 miles of wastewater mains
• 3 water treatment plants
• 2 wastewater treatment plants
• 1 biosolids management plant
• 44 pump stations for water system
• 38 Water Reservoirs
• 142 wastewater lift stations
• Nearly 31,000 fire hydrants
• More than 59,000 manholes

Austin Water technicians continually check the condition of critical water and wastewater system infrastructure to make sure our utility service is of the highest quality and to identify issues that can affect system performance.

Ongoing Improvements

Austin Water’s 5-Year Capital Improvement Plan is approved by City Council each year and includes funding for design and construction projects to improve reliability, resiliency and capacity.

Austin Water works to provide updates to neighborhoods and residents throughout the construction process. You can find a list of ongoing projects in the sections listed below.

This interactive map shows projects in construction or expected to begin construction in the next 6 months.

Learn more about Austin Water projects:

My ATX Water- This city-wide smart water meter program will modernize our infrastructure by replacing more than 250,000 analog meters with digitally read meters connected to a wireless network.

Facilities- Design and construction projects at Austin Water plants, reservoirs, pump stations and lift stations are critical in updating our infrastructure, improving resiliency and expanding capacity to serve a growing community.

Reclaimed Water- Learn about how treated water from our wastewater treatment plants is used for irrigation, toilet flushing and other non-potable uses.

Onsite Water Reuse Systems - Onsite Water Reuse Systems which collect rainwater, condensate water, stormwater, graywater, or foundation drain water for non-potable applications such as irrigation, toilet flushing, and cooling applications.

Pipeline- Projects to replace and renew water and wastewater pipelines, including small-diameter pipelines typically found in neighborhoods under the Renewing Austin Program.

Maintenance- Austin Water crews provide preventative maintenance to care for and extend the life of our water system, safeguarding our community needs now and for years to come.

How We Manage Costs

Austin Water has made strategic infrastructure investments to ensure dependable water service while also improving affordability for customers using a multi-year debt management strategy that includes:

• Securing near-zero percent interest loans to fund infrastructure improvements
• Using tactics like debt defeasance and refunding to reduce debt costs
• Ensuring that new developments pay their fair share for water and wastewater infrastructure through Capital Recovery Fees

These savings are then passed along to customers as:

• Customer Assistance Program (CAP) for low-income residents
• Temporary rate reductions to respond to events like the COVID-19 pandemic, or extreme freezing weather in February 2021