Background
Over half of the population of Alton falls below the poverty line. Moreover, 80 percent of residents make use of septic tanks while the remaining 20 percent use illegal pit privies. Surfacing of raw sewage compounds the poor public health situation.
Description
This project involves construction of a wastewater collection system and connections to the McAllen, Texas wastewater treatment plant. Wastewater flows will be transmitted to the city of McAllen North Wastewater Treatment Plant and treated to meet state and federal permit
limits and standards.
In order to serve Alton as well as meet the future growth of the McAllen community, the city of McAllen will construct – in two phases – additional plant treatment capacity in the amount of 4 millions gallons per day (mgd). Alton will purchase 2 mgd of the total treatment capacity. This capacity is sufficient to serve approximately 85 percent of the existing colonia subdivisions in the Alton service area.
Benefits
This project will eliminate on-site disposal systems which are failing because of inadequate soil conditions, thus having a direct impact on the health and well-being of Alton’s residents.
