Cleburne’s Integrated Water Program Wins ENR Best Project Award
The City of Cleburne earned 2025 Best Project honors in the regional Water/Environment category from the Engineering News-Record (ENR) Texas & Louisiana. The recognition for its Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) Expansion and Indirect Reuse Program highlights the City’s leadership in building a more resilient and sustainable water future.
ENR’s annual Best Projects program honors outstanding design and construction achievements across the region. Independent industry judges evaluate each entry for innovation, safety, teamwork and its contribution to the community.
Cleburne’s project stood out for its integrated approach to expanding wastewater treatment capacity while introducing an indirect potable reuse system, a forward-thinking solution that strengthens the City’s long-term water supply. The recognition places Cleburne among this year’s top municipal innovators.
Earlier this year, the WWTP and Indirect Reuse Program was named Project of the Year by the Texas Chapter of the American Public Works Association in the Environment category, $25 million–$75 million division.
Cleburne’s Award-Winning Project
City leaders launched the WWTP and Indirect Reuse Program to meet growing demand and strengthen local water resilience. Instead of simply increasing capacity, Cleburne took a comprehensive approach that treats wastewater as a long-term resource.
Working alongside Freese and Nichols, the City developed a design that expanded the treatment plant’s capacity while improving efficiency and water quality. The upgraded facility includes advanced biological nutrient removal, ultraviolet disinfection and tertiary filtration to produce high-quality treated water suitable for reuse.
A key innovation is the City’s indirect potable reuse system, which returns treated water to Lake Pat Cleburne for future use in the drinking water supply. This approach allows Cleburne to conserve natural resources and reduce dependence on traditional water sources during drought conditions.
Freese and Nichols supported the City from early planning through construction, helping secure regulatory approvals, coordinate with funding agencies and integrate new technology within the existing plant footprint. The City also collaborated with the Texas Water Development Board to secure low-interest financing through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, resulting in significant savings for taxpayers over the life of the loan.
