Texas Water Development Board approves $18 million to the City of Bryan (Brazos County) for an aquifer storage and recovery project

For immediate release. Contact: Media Relations at 512-463-5129

AUSTIN – (July 21, 2016) – The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) today approved by resolution financial assistance in the amount of an $18 million multi-year, low-interest loan from the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT) program* to the City of Bryan (Brazos County). The City will use the assistance to finance the planning, acquisition, design, and construction of an aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) project.

By using the SWIFT program, the City could save approximately $240,000 over the life of the 2016 portion of the loan commitment. Additional savings will occur when the City closes on the last portion of the loan in 2017.

The City will construct an ASR injection well and a recovery well with the assistance approved today. The assistance will also be used to purchase land for the recovery well and to construct pipelines for the project and a pump station. The project will allow the City to address potential water supply shortages during droughts and high-demand periods and is expected to allow the City to meet the maximum daily demands beyond 2040.

*The SWIFT program includes two funds, the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT) and the State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas (SWIRFT). Revenue bonds for the program are issued through SWIRFT.

The TWDB is the state agency charged with collecting and disseminating water-related data, assisting with regional planning, and preparing the state water plan for the development of the state's water resources. The TWDB administers cost-effective financial assistance programs for the construction of water supply, wastewater treatment, flood control, and agricultural water conservation projects.