The city receives it water from the Donna Irrigation District, Hidalgo County No. 1 and provides service to approximately 99 percentof its population. Water services for many of the 20 colonias surrounding the city are provided by the North Alamo Water Supply Corporation (North Alamo WSC) and the Colonia Nueva Water Supply Corporation (Colonia Nueva WSC). The latter purchases treated water wholesale from Donna.
Donna’s original water plant was constructed in 1918 with process improvements made in 1947 and 1987. The existing water plant treats only 3.42 million gallons per day (mgd), which is considered insufficient to meet future water needs of this rapidly growing community. In addition, the plant has been cited for numerous violations by the Texas Environmental Quality Commission (TEQC).
Wastewater collection and treatment is also provided by the City to approximately 50 percent of the population. The existing wastewater treatment plant has a treatment capacity of 2.3 mgd, which is insufficient to meet the needs of the growing service area population as well as the colonias, which do not currently receive service. Instead, colonia residents often utilize septic tanks or open pit privies to dispose of their sewage, which has resulted in the contamination of surface water resources.
Major water system improvements:
Phase I
Phase II
Major Wastewater System Improvements:
This project will improve the city’s water quality and provide service to additional colonias surrounding the city. In addition, upgrades and replacements to the existing wastewater system will provide colonia residents with sewer service for the first time, drastically reducing the health risks associated with the use of septic tanks.
Total Project Cost | US 21.62M | ||||
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NADBank Funding |
US 2.61M - NADBank Grant: BEIF |
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Other Funding Partners |
Border Environment Infrastructure Fund Institutional Development Cooperation Program Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) |