City Council approves full replacement of Fifth Street waterline using TWDB funds

The Bay City Council Workshop held on July 8, 2025, focused on the critical assessment and proposed replacement of the Fifth Street waterline. The meeting highlighted the deteriorating condition of the existing 12-inch ductile iron pipeline, which has suffered significant structural damage, prompting the need for urgent action.

City staff, in collaboration with Garber and Herb, presented findings from a recent leak detection assessment conducted by Hydramax. The analysis revealed that over 80% of the waterline has lost more than 25% of its original wall thickness, indicating severe deterioration. This situation has led to a documented history of failures, making the waterline a prime candidate for replacement under the Texas Water Development Board's (TWDB) 2023 funding program.

The council discussed the financial aspects of the project, noting that approximately $4.3 million remains available from the TWDB funding, which totals $12 million for the Fifth Street waterline project. The recommendation is to fully replace the waterline rather than pursue piecemeal repairs, which would ultimately be more cost-effective and reliable in the long term. The estimated cost for complete replacement is approximately $2.28 million, while partial repairs would be around $1.9 million.

Construction is expected to take about 300 days, with plans to maintain water service during the replacement process. The council emphasized the importance of this project in reducing future maintenance costs and improving the reliability of the water supply in the area.

In conclusion, the council is set to approve the engineering design services for the full replacement of the Fifth Street waterline, which is seen as a necessary step to address aging infrastructure and ensure long-term service reliability for Bay City residents.