July 22, 2016 1:10 PM

Water panel moves out another $700 million in state projects

El Paso, Austin, and North Harris County are awarded hundreds of millions for infrastructure improvements

The Texas Water Development Board’s SWIFT fund continues to be on course and within budget with the distribution of another $700 million in water projects.

Three entities will pull the bulk of the affordable funding options out of the 2016 round of funds: The El Paso Water Utilities Public Service Board, with a multi-year low-interest loan commitment of $150 million; a low-interest multi-year $167 million loan to the City of Austin to complete advanced metering infrastructure; and an additional $225 million in financial assistance to North Harris County Regional Water Authority to aid in the expansion of transmission lines.

By Kimberly Reeves