Texas Water Development Board approves $47,100,000 to the Guadalupe Blanco River Authority (Guadalupe, Comal, Hays, and Caldwell counties) for a regional water supply project

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

AUSTIN – (July 23, 2020) – The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) today approved by resolution financial assistance in the amount of $47,100,000 from the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT) program* to the Guadalupe Blanco River Authority (Guadalupe, Comal, Hays, and Caldwell counties). The Authority will use the assistance to finance construction costs for a regional water supply project.

By using the SWIFT program, the Authority could save approximately $5,300,000 over the life of the 2020 portion of the loan commitment.

In 2018, the Authority received a commitment for $165,855,000 in SWIFT financial assistance for the first phase of its Mid-Basin Water Supply Project. After evaluating project costs during the design phase, the Authority determined additional funding would be required to complete the project, which has shared elements with Alliance Regional Water Authority’s (ARWA) regional project.

With the assistance approved today and in collaboration with ARWA, the Authority will construct a wellfield, approximately 58 miles of water transmission pipeline, and a 33.5-million-gallon-per-day water treatment plant in addition to improvements to pump stations. This phase is expected to produce 15,000 acre-feet per year of groundwater from the Carrizo Aquifer to allow the Authority to meet the water demands associated with the growing population in its service area through 2040.

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.

*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.