AUSTIN - Austin Water officials marked a major milestone this month. Our city’s oldest water storage reservoir has been replaced with a new, modern one that will improve resiliency for the entire water system.

Austin’s water treatment plants refill the 40 reservoirs in the system overnight to be ready to serve customers’ water needs the next day. During high water demand periods, such as our hot summer days, this infrastructure increases our system’s reliability. Reservoir levels and water treatment plant production is coordinated and monitored by staff at an Austin Water control center around the clock, every day of the year.

The North Austin Reservoir, built in 1913 and located near the intersection of Koenig Lane and North Lamar, served Austin Water’s customers for more than 100 years and had exceeded its useful life. In 2020, the utility began construction to demolish the old reservoir and build a new one in its place. 

This month, the new reservoir was filled with 8 million gallons of drinking water and put back into service, about six months earlier than originally anticipated due to efforts of the project team and contractor. Crews continue work on a new electrical building and pump station on this site, with all construction expected to reach completion by Fall 2023.

“We are celebrating this exciting milestone during a time of extreme heat and drought for our region,” said Robert Goode, Austin Water Interim Director. “Our reservoirs are there to meet demand now, as well as during extreme cold weather events. Getting this infrastructure online ahead of schedule and during peak summertime demands improves the resiliency of our entire system to serve the community when we need it most.”

For more information about the North Austin Reservoir and Pump Station Project visit: austintexas.gov/nareservoir.