Water/Wastewater System

Brownsville Public Utilities Board > Utility Services > Water & Wastewater > Water/Wastewater System

Water is vital to the survival of any community. BPUB's three treatment plants have the capacity to provide 50 million gallons of treated water per day, which is well above the city's current peak demand and can serve a population of more than 150,000. BPUB supports Brownsville's continued growth through capital improvement projects and environmentally conscious water conservation programs.

The raw water system draws water from the Rio Grande. It consists of a river rock weir, a river pump station, two reservoirs providing 186.6 million gallons total capacity, and a raw water transport system. Three water treatment plants provide safe and reliable drinking water. Two surface water plants provide 40 million gallons per day (MGD) of total capacity at 20 MGD treatment capacity.

Additionally, BPUB owns 92.91% of the Southmost Regional Water Authority (SRWA) brackish groundwater treatment facility, a 10.0 MGD reverse osmosis desalination plant. SRWA includes a 7.5 million gallon storage tank.

Around the city, two clear wells provide 6.85 million gallons of storage capacity, and three elevated storage tanks provide 6 million gallons of elevated storage capacity. Three high-service pumping stations pump water into the distribution system, consisting of 699 miles of transmission and distribution mains.

BPUB is subject to water quality regulations of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). BPUB presently a "Superior" water system as determined according to current TCEQ regulations.

Wastewater System

The wastewater system, consisting of collection and treatment facilities, includes gravity wastewater collection lines, 177 pumping stations and two treatment plants.  Wastewater is transported by pumping stations and associated force mains two wastewater treatment plants: the Robindale Wastewater Treatment Facility and the Southside Wastewater Treatment Facility.

The wastewater system provided service to approximately 47,000 customers and accounts for approximately 13% of the BPUB’s total operating revenues annually.

The wastewater system is subject to regulation by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality regarding operations of the facilities and the water quality of the wastewater plants’ effluent.