A rural Texas town has been losing nearly 30% of its treated drinking water through an aging system that breaks down dozens of times a year. On Oct. 1, the Texas Water Development Board stepped in with a multimillion-dollar fix that could ease pressure on both the local water supply and residents' budgets.
For Zavalla, a community of about 950 people, the problem is especially stark due to outdated pipes, recurring service disruptions, and water losses on a scale that is hard for any small town to sustain.
Here's what to know
Zavalla is set for a major drinking water overhaul after the Texas Water Development Board approved $5.3 million in principal-forgiveness funding on Oct. 1, KLTV reported. Because the award does not have to be repaid, the city can pursue the work without adding new debt.
State officials say the town's water system is roughly 60 years old, breaks about 48 times each year, and loses an estimated 10.3 million gallons of treated water annually — nearly 30% of what it produces.
According to KLTV, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has cited the town for falling short of minimum standards for service pumps, storage, and well capacity. The planned upgrades are meant to curb leaks, resolve those compliance issues, and make service more dependable.
Planned improvements include replacing 31,000 feet of deteriorating asbestos-cement pipe, adding a new water well, installing 24 pumps, and constructing three storage tanks with a combined capacity of 160,000 gallons.
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More background
When treated water escapes through cracks and breaks, utilities are forced to spend money pumping and treating water that never reaches homes and businesses. That can strain already limited local budgets and make it harder to keep rates affordable.
Frequent pipe failures can also disrupt daily life for residents, especially in a rural area where backup options may be limited. Breaks can reduce water pressure, interrupt service, and make routine needs — from cooking and bathing to fire protection — less reliable.
According to KLTV, Zavalla qualified for the full Drinking Water State Revolving Fund grant under several designations: disadvantaged, small or rural, very small, and green-project eligible.
The green-project designation was tied to the town's plan to use trenchless, low-impact construction methods, which can reduce surface disruption compared with more invasive digging and replacement work.
What's being done?
The approved funding package is meant to address water loss, aging pipe materials, limited storage capacity, and overall system reliability. The construction timeline runs from September 2027 through June 2029.
With no repayment required, residents stand to benefit from new lines, a new well, upgraded pumps, and added storage capacity through the $5.3 million project, all without the town taking on debt.
Where can I learn more?
Zavalla's water troubles mirror challenges other communities in Texas and beyond are facing with water access, supply, and aging infrastructure.
• In Potosi, residents fought a $4,500 meter demand tied to basic water access.
• In Corpus Christi, officials warned the water crisis could foreshadow tougher shortages ahead.
• In El Paso, utilities advanced state-of-the-art water treatment to strengthen drought resilience.
• In Princeton, Iowa, a new well left residents with undrinkable water instead of relief.
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