NBU Seeks Up to $6 Million in State Funding to Strengthen Water Infrastructure Serving New Braunfels Area Residents
For Morningside Trails residents, reliable water service is one of those essentials that often goes unnoticed—until something goes wrong. A recent action by the New Braunfels City Council could help ensure the community's water infrastructure remains dependable for years to come while helping reduce future financial pressures on customers.
New Braunfels City Council has approved a request from New Braunfels Utilities (NBU) to pursue up to $6 million in funding through the Texas Water Development Board's Water Supply and Infrastructure Grant Program. The funding opportunity was established under House Bill 500 during the 89th Texas Legislative Session and is designed to help utilities invest in critical water infrastructure projects.
If awarded, the funding would support maintenance and rehabilitation work within NBU's existing water system, including improvements to aging infrastructure that helps deliver water to homes and businesses throughout the utility's service area.
Why This Matters for Morningside Trails
As the water provider serving Morningside Trails, NBU continually invests in the infrastructure residents depend on every day. While water pipes, pumps, storage facilities, and other system components may be out of sight, maintaining them is essential to ensuring reliable service, reducing the risk of disruptions, and supporting continued growth throughout the region.
According to NBU, the proposed funding would help offset costs associated with maintaining existing infrastructure and addressing aging system components before they develop into larger and more expensive problems.
"This is about taking care of the infrastructure our community depends on every day while remaining mindful of customer costs," said Ryan Kelso, chief executive officer of NBU. "Pursuing outside funding opportunities like this allows us to proactively maintain and strengthen our system while helping reduce the financial burden on our customers."
For homeowners and families in Morningside Trails, proactive infrastructure investment can help support long-term system reliability while potentially reducing the need for additional customer-funded improvements in the future.
Supporting Long-Term Financial Sustainability
Utility infrastructure projects often require significant capital investment. By seeking grant funding rather than relying solely on customer revenues or financing, NBU hopes to maximize available resources while continuing to maintain critical services.
"Pursuing grant funding is one of the ways we work to maximize the value of customer dollars while continuing to invest in critical infrastructure," said Jessica Williams, NBU's chief financial officer. "These opportunities can help reduce financing needs and support the long-term financial sustainability of the utility."
The application was authorized by City Council on May 11, 2026. If NBU receives the funding, the grant dollars must be utilized by 2031.
A Community-Owned Utility Investing Back Into Its System
NBU serves more than 60,000 customers as a community-owned, not-for-profit utility providing electric, water, and wastewater services. Unlike investor-owned utilities, revenues generated by NBU are reinvested into maintaining and improving the systems that serve local residents and businesses.
The utility also makes annual transfers to the City of New Braunfels that help support community services such as police, fire protection, and parks.
As New Braunfels and surrounding communities continue to grow, investments in water infrastructure remain an important part of ensuring residents have access to reliable service today and in the future.
What Happens Next
NBU will now move forward with submitting its application to the Texas Water Development Board. If selected for funding, the utility will use the grant to help rehabilitate and maintain portions of its existing water infrastructure system, supporting long-term reliability while helping minimize costs for customers.
For Morningside Trails residents, the proposal represents another step toward protecting the infrastructure that keeps water flowing to homes every day—an investment that may not always be visible but plays a critical role in the community's quality of life.
Residents can stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for updates on local utility projects, infrastructure improvements, and community developments affecting Morningside Trails.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
