Integrated Water Planning in Action: Cleburne Builds for Growth and Resilience
This City of Cleburne project was recently named Project of the Year by the Texas Chapter of the American Public Works Association in the Environment category, $25 million–$75 million division, as well as ENR Texas & Louisiana’s Best Project in the Environmental/Water category.
As Cleburne prepared for a projected 25% population increase over the next decade, City leaders recognized two urgent challenges: limited water supply and wastewater facilities nearing capacity. At the same time, long-term drought and growing demand across the North Texas region made it clear that Cleburne needed to take greater control of its water future.
“Cleburne is a special place and we’re very proud to be part of North Texas,” said Cleburne Mayor Scott Cain. “My grandmother moved here in a covered wagon, and I was born and raised here. We have a very proud history of being a railroad town with a small-town feel. We’ve seen a tremendous amount of growth over the last decade, and we’re poised to see unprecedented growth in the next couple of decades.”
Learn more about the project in the video below.
Closing the Loop with Reuse
At the heart of the project is the new Advanced Resource Recovery Train. This advanced facility can treat up to 4 MGD, enough to serve thousands of homes. Instead of sending all the treated water downstream, Cleburne now reuses a portion by piping it back to Lake Pat Cleburne during dry periods.
“This particular project isn’t just about managing sewer and being able to handle larger capacities,” Mayor Cain said. “It’s part of a system that will allow us to reuse water and put it back into our water system. This is probably the largest public works project in the history of Cleburne.”
“We’re taking water from Lake Pat Cleburne, treating it and using it in our community as potable water,” said Jeremy Hutt, Cleburne Public Works Director. “Ultimately, we’re allowing that water to come back to the City through a sanitary sewer, treating it through an enhanced process and then putting it back in the lake. This allows us to use the water repeatedly.”
This approach is known as indirect potable reuse (IPR). The idea is simple: take the water that’s already been used, clean it to a very high standard and use it again. That means the lake, which supplies the City’s drinking water, stays fuller even during drought. When the lake doesn’t need extra water, the City can send it to businesses and parks that use recycled water for irrigation or cooling.
One Water in Action
Cleburne’s “One Water” philosophy guided the project. The City sees drinking water, wastewater and stormwater as part of the same cycle. By thinking about how all the systems connect, the City can find better, more efficient solutions.
“Cleburne has always been forward-thinking when it comes to water supply and wastewater treatment,” said Nick Landes, Project Manager. “They started up wastewater treatment in 1915, which is well before some of the larger utilities in the North Texas area even considered doing wastewater treatment.”
At the new North Plant, high-tech equipment removes nutrients that can harm the lake. This
includes biological nutrient removal (BNR), aluminum sulfate polishing, 10-micron disk filters and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection. Instead of relying on chemicals, the system uses helpful bacteria and energy-saving machines to clean the water. It’s a greener way to treat wastewater, and it helps protect the environment.
The City also uses automated blowers and low-horsepower mixers to cut energy use without compromising performance.
Built for Growth and Flexibility
The project didn’t just add new capacity; it made the entire system stronger and more flexible. Workers upgraded equipment for handling solids and doubled the City’s ability to process wastewater safely and efficiently. Using 3D modeling, the team retrofitted equipment within the existing structure, boosting capacity by 170% without expanding the footprint.
Operators can now take either plant offline for maintenance, enabling long-term flexibility. Even when parts of the old plant had to shut down for maintenance, operators kept the treatment process running smoothly using creative techniques. Those efforts kept the City on schedule and saved months of project time.
“Cleburne is a great example of water stewardship for the 21st century,” said David Jackson, Water and Wastewater Practice Leader. “We need to understand as an industry and as a state that every drop of water counts. How can we most efficiently use every drop of water to the best that we can? In the process, how do we save money, and how do we protect our environment? Cleburne has set a model for what a one-water city should look like.”
Ahead of the Curve
Cleburne’s decision to split construction into two contracts, plant improvements and pipeline installation, allowed the city to advance work strategically and avoid environmental permitting delays. The City opened bids for the WWTP portion in February 2021 before significant cost escalation was observed in the construction market.
Had the City delayed six to 18 months, construction costs could have risen by 30% to 150%. Instead, Cleburne secured competitive bids, preserving the original budget despite pandemic-era inflation. The City financed the project with low-interest loans through the Texas Water Development Board, securing $47.45 million in funding and saving $8.4 million over the 30-year term.
A Blueprint for Other Cities
Cleburne’s integrated solution is a replicable model for water resilience. At just $1.20 per 1,000 gallons of water supply produced, the City’s selection of IPR was estimated to provide a secure water source at 60% the cost of other alternatives that were considered. It supports current needs, future growth and ecological sustainability, all through a single investment.
Cleburne May Scott Cain has advice for other municipalities trying to build a resilient water supply.
“I want to encourage all of my fellow Texans and other municipalities in other states looking at rapid growth to embrace it but be prepared. Go and find partnerships with people who have the expertise that can help you maintain your sense of community. That’s what we did in Cleburne, and it’s going to pay off for decades to come.”