Council OKs I-20 utility planning and a PFAS study at the Hamby plant

Water projects took up most of the Abilene City Council's Thursday morning meeting on Oct. 22 at City Hall.

Council voted unanimously to hire Jacob & Martin for up to $135,000 to plan the relocation of city water and sewer lines in the way of TxDOT's Interstate 20 rebuild, from west of Highway 351 to the Callahan County line. Water Utilities Director Matthew Dane said required relocations will be reimbursed, but the city would pay for any upgrades it chooses beyond that. Relocations for the first of three phases are finished, and highway work on that phase was expected to start in November.

Council also unanimously approved a contract of up to $1,405,600 with Hazen and Sawyer to study PFAS, the long-lasting 'forever chemicals,' at the Hamby Water Reclamation Facility. In a second vote, it approved applying to the Texas Water Development Board for the same amount.

Dane said the study will look at how PFAS may build up in the treatment solids the city stores at Hamby. That matters because treated water from Hamby goes back into a drinking-water source through indirect potable reuse. The results could shape future plant upgrades and help the city weigh in as state and federal rules develop.

The state money would come from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund's emerging contaminants program, which forgives 100% of the principal on eligible costs. The consultant will bill for time and materials up to the cap.