Construction underway on Conroe’s new wastewater treatment plant (Source: Conroe Courier)

By Catherine Dominguez

Construction on the city’s new $60 million waste water treatment plant has started and is expected to be online by Spring 2022.

Spurred by growth and the city’s current facility nearing capacity, council members agree a new plant is critical for the community’s future.

“We are continuing to be good stewards for our community,” said Norman McGuire, director of public works at City of Conroe. “The fact that the city is growing rapidly is wonderful. But with that growth, we need to improve our infrastructure in an efficient, cost-effective manner. The wastewater treatment plant is an important component of that improvement.”

The new plant, which is being constructed on 25-acres of a 50-acre greenfield site east of Interstate 45 north of South Loop 336, will have a six million gallons a day capacity with the ability to be expanded to 12 MGD. Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam Inc. is the project’s design engineer, while LEM Construction Co, Inc. is the contractor.

“The new treatment plant will increase the city’s treatment capacity by 50 percent and is Conroe’s largest public works project to-date,” said Melissa Mack, P.E., LAN’s senior associate and principal. “It will also reduce the city’s operating costs over the lifespan of the facility.”