Title
Approving an agreed order with TCEQ in the amount of $131,540, and authorizing the City Manager to execute the same.
Summary
As has been noted previously, the City has experienced delays with the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant Phase I Expansion Project. With the delays to the project throughout 2022 and until major components were put online in May 2023, staff were unable to manage the flows at the treatment plant with the original treatment plant while still meeting the City’s discharge permit requirements. As these events occurred throughout 2022 and early 2023, staff would communicate to TCEQ the challenges occurring with the expansion project and that discharge requirements could not always be met with some of the existing equipment. While staff worked with TCEQ on these items, an Agreed Order would need to be completed in order to pay fines for any effluent discharges that didn’t meet quality limits as well as other items that could not be completed until the expansion project was substantially complete. A summary of the violations noted in the Agreed Order and their corrections are as follows:
• Discharge violations on effluent quality during the several months in 2022 and early 2023 for total ammonia, Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), and TSS.
o These items were remedied as soon as the new processes were put online in May 2023.
• Failure to update the City’s industrial stormwater permit for the Central Wastewater Treatment Facility
o This item is being remedied currently as a new permit could not be applied for until the as-builts were completed indicating new drainage points.
• Failure to transfer Type I Reclaimed Water that meets effluent quality requirements.
o This item was remedied as soon as the new processes were put online in May 2023.
The majority of the items were corrected after the new Biological Nutrient Removal processes were brought online with the exception of the stormwater permit which is being completed currently. While City staff were able to manage the process to the best of their ability during the construction project, the delays in the expansion project caused significant issues with meeting effluent quality requirements with the increased flow at the facility. With the new treatment equipment online, the City has remained in compliance with the updated discharge permit and will achieve full compliance once the stormwater permit is renewed with the TCEQ.
Prior City Council Action
N/A
Deadline for City Council Action
May 28, 2024
Funding Expected: Revenue __ Expenditure _X_ N/A __
Budgeted Item: Yes ___ No _X_ N/A __
Amount: _$131,540_______
1295 Form Required? Yes __ No _X_
Legal Review Required: N/A _X__ Required ___ Date Completed: ___________
Supporting documents attached:
TCEQ Proposed Agreed Order
Recommended Action
Approving an agreed order with TCEQ in the amount of $131,540, and authorizing the City Manager to execute the same.