Texas Water Development Board approves $7,495,615 to the City of Rio Grande City (Starr County) for wastewater system improvements

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AUSTIN – (May 21, 2020) – The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) today approved by resolution financial assistance in the amount of $7,495,615, consisting of a $5,410,000 loan and $2,085,615 in loan forgiveness from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, to the City of Rio Grande City (Starr County). The City will use the assistance to finance planning, design, and construction costs associated with a wastewater system improvement project.

In addition to the loan forgiveness, the City could save approximately $1.6 million over the life of the loan by using the Clean Water State Revolving Fund.

The City’s wastewater treatment plant has been frequently operating at 90 percent capacity. With the financial assistance approved today, the City will rehabilitate aging equipment and double the wastewater treatment plant’s capacity from 1.5 to 3 million gallons per day to meet future population demands.

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.