The City of Pasadena, Texas is taking a major step forward in strengthening the reliability and resilience of its wastewater infrastructure. Backed by $9 million in funding through the Texas General Land Office (GLO) Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery Reallocation Program, the City is moving ahead with vital improvements at both of its wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). This funding repurposes unused federal disaster recovery dollars to support more resilient community rebuilding after federally declared disaster, an important investment for a city significantly affected by Hurricane Harvey.

The fast-tracked improvements will upgrade both the Vince Bayou WWTP and Golden Acres WWTP, which together serve roughly 156,000 residents, safeguarding public health, protecting local waterways, and supporting long-term economic stability. Both facilities were heavily affected by Hurricane Harvey flooding, underscoring the need for resilient upgrades that ensure operational continuity and regulatory compliance with Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System standards.

Upgrades at the Vince Bayou WWTP

The Vince Bayou facility will undergo critical upgrades to its aging sludge dewatering system, including new belt filter presses, polymer feed system, and sludge feed pumps that had exceeded their useful life. All new equipment will be elevated above the Hurricane Harvey flood elevation to reduce the risk of future storm-related damage.

Additional improvements include redundant pumps, upgraded piping, instrumentation and controls improvements, and NFPA 820 code improvements within the dewatering building that will significantly expand operational flexibility and reliability. The project is being carefully phased with both interim and permanent improvements to maintain continuous sludge dewatering operations throughout construction, ensuring the facility with an average daily flow of 14.0 million gallons per day (mgd) remains fully functional during the transition.

Upgrades at the Golden Acres WWTP

At the Golden Acres facility, the City is implementing essential improvements to modernize aging solids handling infrastructure. Planned upgrades include new sludge holding tanks, positive displacement blowers, diffused aeration systems, thickened sludge and sludge transfer pumps, concrete pads with canopies, piping and valves, paving, sidewalks, electrical enhancements, and SCADA system improvements. As with the Vince Bayou project, all mechanical and electrical components will be elevated or protected from flooding to reduce the risk of future storm damage. The design incorporates material selection, piping arrangements, and equipment choices that provide equipment and process redundancy, create operational flexibility across multiple scenarios, and improve solids handling performance to reduce sludge hauling.

Putting Resilience at the Forefront

“These upgrades are about far more than infrastructure. They are about protecting people and strengthening our city’s future,” said Mark Gardemal, PE, Deputy Director – Public Works for the City of Pasadena, Texas. “By investing in both wastewater treatment plants now, we are helping Pasadena be better equipped to safeguard public health, preserve environmental quality, and withstand the next major storm.”

Together, these improvements will enhance solids handling performance, reduce the frequency of sludge hauling, lower operational and maintenance costs, and extend the life of critical wastewater assets for decades to come.

A Collaborative Approach to Long-Term Success

HR Green has partnered closely with the City throughout the process, providing engineering design, construction-phase services, permitting support, and funding coordination. With design and funding phases now complete, the project is preparing to enter the bidding and construction phase.

“We’re proud to support Pasadena’s forward-thinking approach to infrastructure investment,” said Keval Satra, PE, HR Green Project Manager. “By aligning strategic engineering with smart funding solutions, the City is transforming disaster recovery dollars into long-lasting capital improvements that will benefit the community for years to come.”