TYLER, Texas — Tyler Water Utilities crews will be building a new elevated storage tank to improve water pressure for residents and strengthen the water distribution system.
According to the city of Tyler, engineering firm Halff is leading the project. In 2023, Halff presented a study of a Water Model and Master Plan to determine which parts of the water system need attention. The study estimated the future growth for the city by analyzing its water treatment facilities and distribution system.
The storage tank will be on State Highway 155, or Frankston Highway, between Walton Road and Earl Campbell Parkway. The exact location will be decided during the project's preliminary design, the city of Tyler said.
"The new elevated storage tank will reduce stress on the system and treatment plants during peak demand," the city of Tyler said.
The tank is expected to be operational by fall 2027.
Westside Wastewater Treatment Plant
Also on Wednesday, the Tyler City Council approved a contract with Garver for the Westside Wastewater Treatment Plant rehabilitation project. This includes replacing the existing headworks facility and influent pump station, converting existing anaerobic digesters into aerated sludge holding tanks and rehabilitating the existing sludge lagoon.
The project should cost around $10.9 million and be funded through bonds, according to the city of Tyler.
"The successful implementation of this project is critical to the efficient functioning of the Westside Wastewater Treatment Plant for the next 30 years, which is essential for the growth and development of our city," said Utilities Director Kate Dietz.
In 2023, Garver created the city's Wastewater Treatment Plants Master Plan to identify the near-term needs of the city's Westside and Southside wastewater treatment plants and address the needs of the facilities over the next 30 years.
The improvements will be done in four phases. The preliminary design engineering for all phases should be complete by November this year. The final design of phase one is expected to be done by the end of September 2025. The construction contract for the first phase should begin November 2025 and end November 2027.
The fast-tracked sludge lagoon rehabilitation should start in November 2024 and end in May 2025. All construction should be complete by March 2032.
Water Main Upgrades
The city council on Wednesday approved a $285,000 contract with Elledge Engineering for the design and construction phases of upgrading more than 11,000 linear feet of two-inch water mains to six-inch mains.
"Our goal is to replace outdated water mains throughout the distribution system," Dietz said. "Currently, the city has around nine miles of two-inch galvanized water mains dating back to the 1940s along with countless dead-end mains. The replacements will address known problem areas within the system, saving ratepayers maintenance costs."
The city said the project will look to replace two-inch galvanized lines and loop dead-end mains for a safer product for customers.
The upgrades will be happening in the following areas:
- McCurley Drive
- East Earl Street
- South Clayton Avenue
- Richards Street
- East Elm Street
- West Elm Street
- Nettles Drive
- South Ross Street