The City of Bryan operates three activated sludge plants to treat our community’s wastewater. The city is divided into three sewer basins based on the service area for each treatment plant.
Schedule a Water or Wastewater Plant Tour
Do you want to know where our water comes from? Have you ever wondered where the water goes when it goes down the drain? Schedule a tour of Bryan’s water production facility or one of Bryan’s wastewater treatment facilities. Tours are performed during our regular business hours (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.) and are free of charge. Please wear comfortable clothes and closed-toe shoes. Reservations are required and can be made by contacting the Public Works Call Center at 979-209-5900 or email Water Services. Please indicate the requested tour date and the number of persons in your group.
Hauled Waste Disposal
The City of Bryan’s Still Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant is a receiving facility for septic, port-o-can and grease/grit trap waste in Brazos County. Permitted waste haulers may dispose of approved waste Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Please note that access may be denied during times of wet weather or other unforeseen circumstances. For more information regarding our location, please feel free to contact us at 979-209-5655 or you can download this map.
Holiday Schedule
Still Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant will be closed for disposal on all of the following city recognized holidays:
- New Years Day
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- Good Friday
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Day after Thanksgiving
- Christmas Eve
- Christmas Day
Waste Transport Permit Requirement
All liquid waste transporters utilizing the Still Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant must be permitted by the City of Bryan’s Environmental Compliance Team before disposal privileges will be granted. Under this system, each vehicle used by a company to provide liquid waste hauling service (transport and disposal) within Bryan must have a permit. Disposal privileges will not be granted without proof of permit. Further information on the city’s liquid waste transporter permit can be obtained by calling the Environmental Compliance Team at 979-209-5900.
Disposal Costs for Accepted Waste
- Grit: $0.21/gallon
- Grease: $0.17/gallon
- Septic/Port-A-Can: $0.08/gallon
Prevent the Clog
The City of Bryan maintains 440 miles of sewer lines with over 22,000 connections from residential homes within its sewer system. Wastewater from customers travels through the sanitary sewer system to the wastewater treatment plant where it is processed and returned to the environment. Fats and oils from cooking grease are major sources of stoppages within the sewer system because when poured down the drain, these items coat, congeal and accumulate onto the sewer pipes – causing reduced flows and promoting backups.
Fats, oils and grease are found in such things as:
- Meat Fats
- Food Scraps
- Lard
- Baking Goods
- Butter
- Cooking Oil
- Sauces
- Shortening
- Dairy Products
- Margarine
There are several easy steps that can be taken to promote a healthy sewer system, including but not limited to:
- Disposal of table scraps in the garbage.
- Use paper towels to wipe dishes, pots and pans before washing.
- Avoid the use of garbage disposals.
- Freeze used cooking oils in a spill-proof container and place into your trash cart on your scheduled collection day.
- Recycle used cooking oils at the Bryan “Do-It-Yourself” Used Oil Recycling Center: 1111 Waco Street, Monday – Saturday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
By working together to “Prevent the Clog”, the City of Bryan, its residents and businesses will benefit from:
- Reduced plumbing costs associated with clogs and stoppages in sewer lines.
- Reduction of unsightly sanitary sewer overflows attributed to fats, oils and grease.
- Lower sewer rates by prolonging the life of the sanitary sewer by minimizing the need for pipe replacement and repair.
Industrial Pre-Treatment Program
Program participation is based on an industry’s categorical classification and volume of wastewater discharged. The Industrial Pretreatment Program (IPP) works to ensure that wastewater discharged from qualifying industries meets federal and state wastewater quality standards before it is discharged to the city’s wastewater collection and treatment system.
All industries participating in the IPP are required to sample their wastewater and participate in regular inspections performed by city staff.
Surcharge fees are calculated based on the strength of each industry’s discharge and the volume of wastewater discharged. Surcharge fees are separate from monthly water and sewer usage fees, and are used to offset operational costs assumed by the city for collection and treatment of industrial wastewater.
Inflow & Infiltration
Sanitary sewers are designed to carry sewage and are not sized to handle added flows from inflow and infiltration. Inflow and infiltration are terms used to describe how groundwater and rainwater enter the sanitary sewer system. These sources are known as “clear water” to distinguish it from sewage.
As a rain event begins, the sanitary sewer starts to fill with clear water as a result of inflow and infiltration. Once the sanitary sewer system has reached capacity or become overloaded, water will flow backward through the sanitary sewer, flooding households and causing manholes to pop open releasing sewage and potential pathogens into the street and environment.
The city maintains approximately 440 miles of sewer pipe. Stretched end to end, the sanitary sewer would reach from Bryan to New Orleans, Louisiana. The city has implemented proactive approaches to its management and operation of the sewer system to minimize overflow occurrences associated with inflow and infiltration. These approaches include:
- Creating a prioritized preventive maintenance and sewer cleaning schedule.
- Mapping service history, overflows and assets into GIS.
- Forecasting future repairs and system improvements.
- Implementing a scheduled inspection and condition assessment for sewer pipe.
- Reaching out to homeowners and businesses through public education.
The city performs routine inspections of the sewer system to identify defects in its system and sewer pipes from private homes and businesses. Typical defects in sewer piping such as cracks, leaking joints, collapsed lines and/or missing cleanout caps, serve as points of entrance for inflow and infiltration.
Property owners will be asked to repair defects identified as a result of sewer inspections. The city’s Sewer Lateral Grant Program and Sewer Lateral Assessment Program are simple and convenient ways for Bryan homeowners to offset the cost of repairing or replacing defects in their home’s sewer piping.
Contact us to learn more about these programs or actions you can take to prevent inflow and infiltration.
Backflow Prevention Program
Backflow means the flow in the direction opposite to the normal flow or the introduction of any foreign liquids, gases or substances into the water distribution system. Backflow can occur under any set of hydraulic conditions where the system is not protected by an approved backflow assembly.
Backflow assemblies must be tested when installed or repaired, and may be required to perform annual testing depending on its hazard classification. Property owners are required to submit testing reports to the city each time a backflow assembly is tested.
Backflow assembly testers must be permitted by the City of Bryan to perform testing on any backflow assembly located in Bryan.
Please contact the Public Works Call Center at 979-209-5900 or visit the Help Bryan online issue reporting form if you have questions or complaints regarding cross-connections or backflow prevention devices.
Private Sewer Lateral Assessment Program
The sewer lateral is the portion of pipe that connects your home to the city’s main sewer line. If your sewer lateral needs replacement, you may be eligible for a low-interest loan through the City of Bryan’s Sewer Lateral Assessment Program. The city offers this low-interest loan program to qualified property owners for replacement or relocation of a private sewer lateral.
Loans feature a 3% interest rate and are available in amounts up to $7,000. A security interest (lien) is placed on each project property until the loan is repaid. Loans carry a five year term and may be paid in full any time during the term without penalty. Monthly billing will be performed by the City of Bryan’s Finance Office.
Eligibility Requirements
- You must be a City of Bryan resident and property owner.
- You must own the residence where the improvement is made.
- You must have good credit with Bryan Texas Utilities.
- Participation is limited to single family, duplex, triplex and fourplex residential dwellings.
How Will the Assessment Program Work?
- A funding application is submitted by the property owner to the city.
- The property owner will secure at least two bids for work. Bids must be itemized and include a scope of service and detailed drawing of the project.
- The bids will be presented to the city for review and acceptance.
- Consent of the property owner to the city’s selected bid is ratified by the property owner entering into a contract with the city.
- The city will inspect the job to ensure it is performed to city code.
- The city will make payment to the service provider once the job is complete and accepted by the city.
- A certificate of completion and lien affidavit will be filed with the County Clerk’s Office. A lien will be placed against the property.
- The lien will be released from the property once the loan is repaid in full.
What Costs are Covered by the Assessment Program?
Equipment, labor, permits and materials associated with the replacement or relocation of a private sewer lateral.
How to Apply
- Download the loan application.
- Complete the application. Be sure to fill in all required information.
- Send the completed application to:
City of Bryan, Water Services Department
P.O. Box 1000
Bryan, Texas 77805
Attn: Sewer Lateral Assessment Program
Please contact the Water Services Department at 979-209-5900 for further information concerning the Sewer Lateral Assessment Program.
Contact Us
Report an issue to Public Works Customer Service.
Email us through our contact form.
Phone: 979-209-5900
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