Kyle’s wastewater treatment plant, located in the Waterleaf neighborhood, processes water so it can be safely returned to Plum Creek or reused for irrigation or construction. Right now, the plant is treating about 4.1 million gallons per day (MGD), which is close to its permitted capacity of 4.5 MGD. That’s why the City is moving forward with a large expansion project, starting with a small but immediate step called an Early Works Package, a set of improvements currently under construction that will add breathing room and help ensure the plant keeps doing the dirty work.
This is a photo walkthrough of the plant, what the major parts do, what’s being built now, and what is on the horizon.
Current Wastewater Treatment Plant Layout
This aerial view shows the main parts of Kyle’s wastewater treatment plant today. As you scroll, you’ll see close-ups of each area and a simple explanation of what it does.
The Parts and Process of the Plant
Wastewater is cleaned in a series of steps. The goal is simple: remove trash and debris, let natural biological processes do the heavy lifting, separate out solids, then disinfect the water before it leaves the plant and enters Plum Creek. Here are those components of the plant and a bit about what they do.
The Headworks
This simple looking building with pipes out front is the plant’s “front door.” Inside, there are screens that filter out and remove larger items that don’t belong in the sewer system, like wipes, rags, and other debris. Careful what you flush. Please don’t flush those wipes! We only want the three “Ps”; pee, poop, and (toilet) paper.
Aeration Basins
This is where most of the cleaning happens. Air is added so helpful microorganisms can break down pollutants naturally.
Clarifiers
These round tanks slow the water down so solids can settle out. Cleaner water and the settled solids are separated and moved to through different areas in the next step.
Package Plants
Kyle has two package plants, which are compact treatment units that have both the aeration and clarifying steps of the process, all in one structure. The first was installed in 1998, with another added later as Kyle’s population and wastewater flows increased over time.
Tertiary Treatment
This is the final cleaning step; disinfection. After that, the treated water leaves the plant through the outfall, where it is safely released into Plum Creek.
Digesters and Dewatering Facility
The solids removed during the clarifying step are sent here for additional breakdown and stabilization, then equipment squeezes out extra water from the remaining solids so the material can be hauled away for proper disposal. While the dry solids are hauled away, the liquid is returned back to the start of the entire process.
Expansion Underway
Kyle’s wastewater treatment plant has expanded over time as the community has grown, and we’re at that point again.
Today, the plant is treating about 4.1 MGD, close to its permitted capacity of 4.5 MGD. The Early Works Package quickly adds capacity to approximately 6 MGD. Future phases will expand the plant to 9 million and eventually 12 MGD.
With current flows close to the plant’s permitted limit, the short-term early works expansion will quickly add capacity and help the plant continue producing high-quality treated water. But that isn’t the end, this is just the start of further expansion that will keep us ahead of demand into the future.
Early Works Package Rendering (EWP: 6 MGD)
This rendering shows what the plant will look like after the Early Works Package is complete. This phase will give the city an incremental increase treatment capacity to approximately 6 million gallons per day. It adds an aeration basin, a clarifier, and a larger tertiary treatment structure as well as improved fencing and landscaping to improve aesthetics for the neighboring park and residents. Additional fencing and robust odor control will be installed in the future final works package.
Current Construction at the Wastewater Treatment Plant
Here’s what that work looks like right now. Crews are building new treatment components that will increase capacity and strengthen the plant’s performance.
Annotated Construction Overview
This aerial image highlights the major items under construction, including a new aeration basin, a new clarifier, and expanded final treatment systems.
Future Plant Expansion (Phase 2: 9 MGD)
This rendering shows the next major phase of improvements, which will expand total treatment capacity to approximately 9 MGD, with tentative completion in 2028.
Future Plant Expansion (Phase 3: 12 MGD)
This rendering shows the final phase of improvements, which will expand total treatment capacity to approximately 12 MGD. The completion of this project is expected closer to 2030.
Wastewater treatment is one of those services that matters most when it’s working well. These upgrades help ensure Kyle can keep protecting public health, and the environment, as the community changes over time.
For more information on the WWTP Early Works Package, read our previous article:
