Public Meeting held for the North Alamo Regional Sanitary Sewer Collection System – Phase I and Wastewater Treatment Plant Project

The meeting, which was held at the North High School Conference Hall in Donna, Texas, was chaired by Ivan Garcia, P.E., S.I.T., A.C. of Rio Delta Engineering and was attended by representatives of the six subdivisions benefited by this project.

For wastewater disposal, the unserved area currently uses septic tanks that overflow from time to time. This condition is exacerbated during the rainy season, as the water table rises. In addition, the area has no wastewater treatment service. The proposed improvements consist of a 21.9 liters per second treatment facility, a gravity wastewater collection system, 4 lift stations, domestic wastewater hook-ups, and decommissioning of septic tanks for approximately 471 households.

The project will cost US $6.7 million and will benefit 1,900 local residents. It must be noted that all the new facilities will be connected to the new gravity wastewater collection system. 

Benefited subdivisions include:
• Alberta Acres
• El Charro # 2
• Isaac’s Subdivision
• L.J. # 1
• Muñiz Subdivision
• Tower Road Estates

This project is a candidate for BECC certification, and this public meeting will help it meet the criterion that requires providing extensive information to the community about the benefits and impacts of this type of projects. 

Adan Garcia, a resident of the El Charro 2 subdivision, said "This project gives us great satisfaction. We believe it is very good for the future of our children, as we have struggled a lot with the issue. As neighbors we have discussed that when it rains, the streets around our homes get flooded and we wondered when this issue was going to be solved. We now see that the issue of wastewater seepage, which is a source of infections, will finally be addressed with this project. We thank the people and agencies that are working on it for the progress and welfare of our subdivision."

He added "I have been living in this subdivision for 14 years, the same time that I have been using a septic tank and, although that method addresses the wastewater disposal issue, it is very expensive to service it once or twice a year and during the rainy season, because there is seepage and sometimes we even get flooded. The implementation of wastewater collection will benefit us greatly. It is a big change, as there will be no more flooding or problems and we can use the available land to expand and build or plant trees, and there will be no mosquitoes o issues with foul odors." 

Leopoldo Olvera, a resident of the El Charro 2 subdivision, said: "I'm very happy because finally someone turns to see us and shows us something more tangible to be developed in the subdivision. I hope I can share the good news with my neighbors and continue working on projects like this because, if we are able to get the sewage system installed, progress will arrive sooner. Thank you very much to those who are making it possible for this to come to our homes and at no additional cost to us." 

Finally, Blanca Garcia, who has lived in the Alamo L.J. No 1 subdivision since 1983 said: "I have always had a septic tank but when it rains the septic tank overflows and, although we haven't had any serious problems, we badly need the sewage system." Hence the importance of this project, she said.