Facilities
Our facilities deliver safe, reliable water and wastewater services to more than 1 million customers in the Austin area.
Austin Water's treatment plants and other facilities deliver drinking water and treated wastewater that meets or exceeds all standards set by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Hourly sampling, continuous testing and preventive maintenance keep our system running reliably around the clock.
Water Treatment Plants
Austin Water draws raw water from Lake Austin and Lake Travis and treats it at three water treatment plants before delivering it to customers.
- Davis Water Treatment Plant — In service since 1954, Davis draws water from Lake Austin and has a current capacity of 118 million gallons per day.
- Ullrich Water Treatment Plant — In service since 1969, Ullrich is located at the tail end of Lake Austin near Tom Miller Dam and has a current capacity of 167 million gallons per day.
- Handcox Water Treatment Plant — Brought online in 2014, Handcox draws water from Lake Travis in the northern portion of Austin Water's service area and has a current capacity of 50 million gallons per day.
Austin Water also operates Longhorn Dam, which impounds the Colorado River to create Lady Bird Lake.
Wastewater Treatment Plants
- Walnut Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant — Built in 1977, Walnut Creek receives wastewater from Austin Water's sanitary sewer collection system, treats it to a high standard and returns it to the Colorado River. The plant is currently expanding capacity from 75 million gallons to 100 million gallons per day.
- South Austin Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant — Built in 1984, South Austin Regional has undergone numerous upgrades to modernize treatment processes and expand capacity to 75 million gallons per day.
- Hornsby Bend Biosolids Management Plant — Established in the 1950s, Hornsby Bend anaerobically digests and composts biosolids with yard trimmings to produce Dillo Dirt, an EPA-certified soil conditioner.
Pump Stations and Reservoirs
Austin Water operates 44 pump stations and 38 water reservoirs to move water throughout the system, maintain pressure and meet customer demand.
- North Austin Reservoir and Pump Station — Originally built in 1913 and replaced with a modernized facility in 2025, this reservoir stores potable water for customers in north Austin.
- Glenlake Pump Station Bypass Improvements — This project will install approximately 1,000 linear feet of new water line and decommission the existing pump station and water tanks.
Wastewater Lift Stations
Austin Water operates lift stations throughout the service area to pump wastewater where it cannot flow by gravity. Current improvement projects include: