GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT | INFRASTRUCTURE | RESIDENT CONCERNS

League City Council to Consider $86 Million Wastewater Plant Expansion as West Side Continues to Grow

One of the largest infrastructure items on Tuesday’s Council agenda would expand the Southwest Water Reclamation Facility and provide additional wastewater capacity for League City’s rapidly developing west side.

By Talk of League City | October 26, 2026

LEAGUE CITY, Texas — League City is preparing to make a major investment in the infrastructure needed to support future growth.

City Council will consider a construction package totaling approximately $86 million Tuesday for expansion of the Southwest Water Reclamation Facility.

The project would add approximately 2 million gallons per day of wastewater treatment capacity as League City continues adding homes and commercial development, particularly on the west side of the city.

The proposal appears on the October 27 City Council agenda and represents one of the largest single infrastructure expenditures currently moving through the City.

What Council Is Being Asked to Approve

The proposed package includes several contracts and contingency amounts associated with construction and project oversight.

The main construction contract would use a Construction Manager at Risk model, with CSA Construction serving as the contractor.

Freese and Nichols would provide construction management, inspection, start-up and post-construction services, while Terracon Consultants would perform materials testing.

Why League City Needs More Wastewater Capacity

The Southwest Water Reclamation Facility serves an area of League City experiencing substantial residential growth.

The expansion was identified through the City’s long-range wastewater planning as additional development increased the need for treatment capacity.

League City’s west side has become one of the community’s primary growth areas, with new subdivisions, future master-planned developments and commercial projects continuing to move forward.

Every new home and business ultimately adds demand to the wastewater collection and treatment system.

Unlike a road project, much of that infrastructure is invisible to residents — until capacity becomes a problem.

What Does “2 Million Gallons Per Day” Mean?

Wastewater treatment plants are typically described by the amount of average daily flow they are permitted to process.

League City’s current capital plan calls for adding approximately 2 million gallons per day, or MGD, of additional treatment capacity at the Southwest facility.

The expansion is intended to increase available capacity while allowing League City to accommodate continued development without overloading the existing system.

The project has evolved during design as engineers evaluated actual plant performance, projected development and the most cost-effective way to expand the facility.

This Is Much More Than Adding Another Tank

The project involves improvements throughout the wastewater treatment process.

Earlier City engineering documents identify planned components that include:

• A new influent lift station
• Expansion of the plant’s headworks
• A new aeration basin and blower system
• A new secondary clarifier
• Expanded sludge pumping systems
• Additional tertiary filtration
• Ultraviolet disinfection improvements
• Expansion of the effluent pumping system
• Additional sludge treatment and dewatering capacity
• Electrical and instrumentation upgrades
• Additional backup power generation

Together, those improvements allow more wastewater to move through the entire treatment process rather than simply increasing capacity at one point in the plant.

Why Wastewater Infrastructure Matters to Growth

Residential development cannot continue indefinitely without corresponding investments in water, wastewater, drainage, roads and emergency services.

A developer may construct streets and utilities inside a new subdivision, but the larger municipal systems those neighborhoods connect to still need enough capacity to handle the additional demand.

Wastewater treatment is one of the less visible constraints on growth.

If treatment plants and major sewer infrastructure are not expanded as population increases, the City can eventually face capacity limitations that affect development and system reliability.

That is why League City has been planning the Southwest facility expansion years ahead of expected buildout.

How Is the Project Being Funded?

League City previously authorized long-term utility-supported debt to help fund the Southwest Water Reclamation Facility expansion.

City financial documents identify approximately $83 million in utility debt supported by wastewater capital recovery fee revenue for the project.

Capital recovery fees are intended to help new development contribute toward infrastructure capacity needed because of growth.

That distinction is important for residents evaluating the project.

The wastewater expansion is not simply another General Fund operating expense. It is part of League City’s utility capital program, with costs tied to the infrastructure needed to serve the wastewater system.

Another Sign of League City’s West-Side Transformation

The project joins several major investments either underway or planned for western League City.

Pat Hallisey Park is moving toward construction, the Grand Parkway B1 corridor is approaching its construction phase, and large residential developments continue to advance through the planning process.

The Southwest Water Reclamation Facility sits behind many of those more visible projects.

Residents may never visit the plant, but its capacity will help determine how much additional development the surrounding area can support.

Council Will Consider the Contract Tuesday

The expansion appears as new business on the October 27 League City Council agenda.

The meeting begins at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Council Chambers, 200 W. Walker Street.

The same meeting includes several other wastewater infrastructure projects, including improvements at the Dallas Salmon Wastewater Treatment Plant and the Constellation Lift Station.

Together, the agenda reflects a significant round of investment in League City’s wastewater network.

What Residents Should Watch

If Council approves the package, the next major milestones will include the construction schedule, site mobilization and eventual plant start-up.

Residents should also watch how League City’s updated water and wastewater master planning aligns future infrastructure projects with the pace of west-side development.

An $86 million wastewater project may not generate the attention of a new sports complex, highway or shopping center.

But infrastructure like this is what allows those visible projects — and thousands of future homes — to function.

Talk of League City will continue following the Southwest Water Reclamation Facility project and other infrastructure investments tied to League City’s growth.

Sources: League City October 27 City Council agenda; League City Southwest Water Reclamation Facility capital-project records; League City Series 2026 utility financing documents.