As one of the fastest-growing cities in Central Texas, Georgetown is making significant investments to secure a sustainable water supply for the future. With projections indicating a potential water shortage by 2030, the city has initiated a $291.8 million infrastructure expansion, including the construction of the South Lake Water Treatment Plant, according to My San Antonio.
Currently under development, the South Lake facility is set to boost the city’s treated water capacity by 22 million gallons per day (mgd) this summer, with another 22 mgd increase planned for next summer. Once completed, the plant will double the city’s water treatment capabilities, a crucial step in meeting rising demand fueled by rapid population growth.
The $175.3 million project, awarded to PLW Waterworks, is being financed through a mix of developer fees from new home construction and revenue from water utility payments. The initiative also includes laying essential water, wastewater, and electric infrastructure to support operations at Lake Georgetown. Construction is divided into two phases and is anticipated to wrap up by 2026.
In addition to the South Lake facility, Georgetown has already completed two major water infrastructure projects in 2024. The North Lake Water Treatment Plant underwent an expansion, increasing capacity by 30% to 37.4 mgd at a cost of $11.7 million. Meanwhile, rehabilitation work on the Southside Water Treatment Plant added another 3.6 mgd to the city’s supply.
At present, 70% of Georgetown’s water comes from the Brazos River Authority, with limited access to groundwater from the Edwards Aquifer. To diversify its water sources, the city’s 2022 Integrated Water Resources Plan suggests increasing reliance on groundwater, which is less vulnerable to drought than surface water.
To support this goal, Georgetown is exploring groundwater supply agreements with EPCOR, GateHouse Water, and Recharge Water and Brewer. In January, the City Council approved negotiations with Recharge Water to evaluate the feasibility of sourcing up to 34,800 acre-feet of water annually from the Simsboro Aquifer. Additionally, the city has entered a two-year agreement with EPCOR, which could lead to a contract for supplying 32–62.5 mgd of treated groundwater by 2030.
A key component of EPCOR’s proposal is an 80-mile underground pipeline linking Robertson County to Georgetown, significantly expanding the city’s groundwater access. If all agreements proceed as expected, these partnerships could collectively add up to 110 mgd of groundwater supply, reinforcing the city’s long-term water security.
City officials plan to update the community on these negotiations by late 2025. As Georgetown continues to experience rapid growth, these infrastructure investments will be critical to ensuring a reliable water supply and mitigating potential shortages in the coming years.