Texas Water Infrastructure Solutions
Meeting Growth With Smarter Water and Wastewater Strategies
As Texas communities expand, their water and wastewater infrastructure must keep pace. During Infrastructure Week 2025 (May 12-16) we’re spotlighting how flexible, decentralized treatment solutions and innovative financing are helping Texas cities and developers stay ahead of demand without breaking the bank.
Texas is one of the fastest-growing states in the United States, with new developments springing up across urban centers and outlying areas. However, aging infrastructure and increasing demand are making it difficult for larger regional utilities to prioritize new neighborhoods, septic-to-sewer conversions, and expanding communities. Yet, the convergence of population growth, declining water supply, and aging infrastructure presents a formidable challenge for the Lone Star State.
Need for Investment
Texas’ population is projected to increase by 73% by 2070, reaching approximately 51.5 million people. Concurrently, water supply is expected to decrease by about 18%, primarily due to a 32% decline in groundwater availability. To meet the escalating demand, Texas would have to invest nearly $154 billion by 2050 in water infrastructure. This includes $59 billion for new water supply projects, $74 billion for repairing existing infrastructure, and $21 billion for upgrading wastewater treatment systems. Despite these needs, there is a projected funding gap of $112 billion, highlighting the urgency for substantial investment.
Urban areas like Houston exemplify the crisis. The city’s East Water Purification Plant, a critical facility, is aging and struggling to meet current demands. Additionally, up to 15% of treated water is lost due to leaks in the aging pipeline system.
In Central Texas, the situation is compounded by wastewater pollution. Rapid development has led to increased discharge of treated wastewater into rivers and streams, threatening pristine watersheds. Recognizing the severity of the issue, Texas lawmakers have initiated measures to address the infrastructure challenges. In 2023, voters approved Proposition 6, establishing the Texas Water Fund to support diverse infrastructure programs. However, current funding remains insufficient, and further legislative action is necessary to secure the state’s water future.
Texas developers and communities, however, may need wastewater treatment and drinking water before solving all of the complex problems posed by large-scale, centralized water and wastewater infrastructure delivery. More and more, they are turning to decentralized and on-site treatment.
Decentralized Treatment for Water and Wastewater
AUC Group specializes in decentralized water and wastewater treatment, providing on-site systems that allow developments to bypass the delays and high costs associated with centralized infrastructure expansion. These solutions offer:
- Location flexibility: Decentralized plants can be placed where they’re needed most, even where no infrastructure yet exists, reducing reliance on distant municipal systems.
- Speed: AUC’s water plants and package wastewater plants are designed for rapid deployment, ensuring communities receive service quickly.
- Scalability: Modular systems can be expanded as demand grows with phased installations, avoiding the pitfalls of overbuilt infrastructure.
AUC’s long-standing expertise streamlines the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) approval process, ensuring projects move forward efficiently. When wastewater plants use membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology, approvals are even faster, allowing developers to meet demand without unnecessary delays.
Decentralized treatment not only offers speed and flexibility but also allows for phased installations that grow with your community’s needs. This avoids the significant upfront investment and potential for overbuilt capacity often associated with large-scale centralized projects, ultimately proving a more cost-effective path forward.
Financing That Works: Lease Options for Developers
Infrastructure investment can be daunting, but AUC offers flexible financing solutions to help municipalities and developers act quickly without heavy upfront costs. Through AUC’s Lease Plant Program, communities can implement phased installations that match growth while controlling expenses. With more than 200 plants under lease, AUC is the expert at keeping infrastructure investment cost-effective and adaptable.
Supporting Sustainable, Resilient Communities
Decentralized infrastructure is not just about convenience — it’s also about long-term resilience. Decentralized treatment solutions help communities ensure compliance with evolving regulations and increase water security amid drought conditions.
By reducing dependence on centralized utilities, AUC’s solutions empower Texas communities to build sustainable, self-sufficient water and wastewater systems that support smart development. In addition, when water reuse technology is included in treatment systems, the resulting high-quality effluent can help shore up water supplies and take advantage of incentives.
Building Texas’ Future, One Plant at a Time
Since 1970, AUC Group has been a trusted partner in Texas water infrastructure, delivering more than 2,000 treatment plants with a commitment to efficiency and reliability.
When you are ready to future-proof your investment in water, contact AUC Group to explore water and wastewater infrastructure solutions that can make all the difference.
