Walnut Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant Earns Award for Sixth Consecutive Year of Environmental Stewardship

AUSTIN – The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) has recognized Austin Water staff at the Walnut Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant for a sixth consecutive year of outstanding regulatory compliance and environmental protection with the 2026 Platinum Peak Performance Award. 

The award is NACWA's highest tier of recognition for compliance with Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) permits issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). After earning the award in 2025, plant staff maintained another year of 100% compliance to receive Platinum Award status again in 2026. 

"Six years of flawless compliance speaks to the exceptional commitment of our staff to protecting public health and the environment," said Austin Water Director Shay Ralls Roalson. "Austin Water is proud to lead the way, and I'm grateful for the Walnut Creek team's constant pursuit of excellence."

Eligibility for the award requires frequent water quality monitoring and strict adherence to reporting deadlines. Austin's wastewater treatment plants produce high-quality treated effluent regulated by discharge permits and water quality standards set by the TCEQ. At the Walnut Creek plant, treated effluent is discharged into the Colorado River downstream of Austin, and Austin Water takes pride in consistently exceeding the water quality requirements established by its state permits to support the health of the waterway.

"This award belongs to the operators, engineers and lab staff who show up every day and get the details right," said Agmed Weber, manager of operations for wastewater treatment at Walnut Creek.

Austin Water recently celebrated the groundbreaking of a $1.5 billion expansion and modernization for the Walnut Creek plant, a project increasing treatment capacity from 75 million to 100 million gallons per day to meet the needs of Austin's growing population. The facility will continue normal treatment operations throughout the construction process, which is currently scheduled for completion in 2031.

In addition to its expanded treatment capacity, the plant will also be upgraded with an ultraviolet disinfection system improving safety for workers and the community by removing the need for chlorine gas, advanced treatment technology to reduce nutrients that contribute to algae growth and a flood wall to protect the facility during extreme weather — all part of Austin Water's commitment to environmental stewardship and protecting the Colorado River.

About Austin Water

Austin Water provides safe, reliable, high quality, sustainable and affordable water services that have met the community’s needs for over 100 years. Austin Water serves over 1 million people in the Austin metropolitan area across more than 538 square miles. As Austin continues to evolve, our mission remains the same: To provide water for people and care for the environment. For more information visit austinwater.org.