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New Braunfels Utilities (NBU) is investing $81 million to expand the Gruene Water Reclamation Facility, doubling its wastewater treatment capacity from 2.5 million gallons per day (MGD) to 4.9 MGD. This expansion is about making sure NBU’s wastewater system has the capacity to keep providing reliable service for the New Braunfels community. 

Every time a customer takes a shower, washes dishes, does laundry or flushes a toilet, that wastewater needs somewhere to go. Water reclamation facilities safely treat wastewater from homes and businesses before the treated water is returned to the environment. 

To make that possible, NBU is improving several parts of the facility, with each upgrade helping it safely and efficiently treat more wastewater. Improvements include:

• New flow splitter box: Helps direct incoming wastewater to different parts of the facility for treatment. 
• Expanded headworks facilities: Increases the facility’s ability to receive wastewater and remove larger debris at the beginning of the treatment process. 
• New biological treatment basins: Adds space where naturally occurring microorganisms help break down waste and remove pollutants from the water. 
• New secondary clarifiers: Adds capacity for separating treated water from remaining solids as part of the treatment process.
• Expanded tertiary filters: Provides additional filtration to remove smaller particles and further clean the treated water. 
• Expanded ultraviolet disinfection equipment: Increases the facility’s ability to use ultraviolet light to disinfect treated water before it leaves the facility. 
• Expanded aerobic digestion: Adds capacity for treating the solids removed from wastewater using oxygen and microorganisms. 
• Expanded solids dewatering system: Helps remove water from treated solids, making them easier to manage and transport. 
• New electrical equipment and site piping: Supports the expanded facility by providing the electrical systems and piping needed to move wastewater through each stage of treatment. 

Much of the work that keeps wastewater service running happens out of sight, but it is essential to everyday life in New Braunfels. The Gruene Water Reclamation Facility expansion is one of the ways NBU is making sure that work continues safely and efficiently for years to come.