Major Upgrades Take Shape at San Antonio’s Clouse Water Recycling Center
A major wastewater construction project is taking shape on San Antonio’s far South Side, where SAWS is expanding and replacing aging equipment at the Steven M. Clouse Water Recycling Center.
The plant handles roughly 125 million gallons each day and serves about 1.5 million people. Its reach includes approximately two-thirds of San Antonio-area residents and businesses, making the work a regional infrastructure investment.
New treatment structures and equipment
A 100,000-square-foot excavation will accommodate three new aeration basins and settling tanks. Those structures are expected to be completed in 2028 and work alongside existing facilities to increase treatment capacity and address future environmental requirements.
Crews are also installing six high-capacity blowers. Three are expected to be installed by the end of 2026. The blowers supply oxygen to microorganisms that break down organic waste, replacing older equipment at the 1980s-era plant.
The October 1 construction update describes a system that cleans wastewater for reuse or release into the environment.
A broader, multiyear investment
SAWS’ 2026 capital-project summary also identifies separate rehabilitation and biosolids improvements at Clouse. The rehabilitation scope includes filtration and disinfection equipment, pumps, electrical controls and concrete repairs, with completion estimated in the fourth quarter of 2028.
The biosolids project has a longer schedule, with estimated completion in the second quarter of 2031. It replaces equipment more than 30 years old and consolidates processing in a new building designed for capacity needs through 2050. Clouse handles solids from all three SAWS water recycling centers, extending that project’s importance beyond the plant’s own wastewater service area.
Johnny Krenek has been connected to community news since childhood, growing up alongside the family business his parents founded—Krenek Printing. Today, he serves as Vice President and lead developer for My Neighborhood News, where he drives the digital experience and supports the team across a variety of technical and operational roles. He is passionate about building tools that help connect neighbors and strengthen communities.
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