Marlin water treatment plant upgrades approved
City to use sand filtration system to reduce chemicals, improve reliability
MARLIN, Texas (KWTX) - Marlin residents could see improvements to their water system after the Texas Water Development Board approved the city’s use of remaining funds for upgrades to the water treatment plant.
The board approved Marlin’s request to use $200,000 in remaining funds from its Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. Texas Water Development Board approved modifications to the city’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund project on Dec. 16.
The board approved a modification to Marlin’s project scope of work, allowing the city to repurpose remaining funds from a $2,907,908 commitment for rehabilitation of the Surface Water Treatment Facility.
The city has two active DWSRF projects: one for distribution system improvements and one for water treatment plant improvements. The distribution system improvement project is complete, and the board’s action allows the city to use those remaining funds for water treatment plant improvements.
The funds will be used to install sand silt filters, which work by passing water through layers of sand and do not require electricity to operate.
Years of water problems
Marlin residents have dealt with frequent water outages over the years. Resident Guy Clemmons said there have been too many instances to count.
“Gosh, I wouldn’t even know how many times, it’s been numerous,” Clemmons said.
Even though the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality constantly tests and approves Marlin’s water, some residents remain hesitant to drink it.
“Most do not drink it, it’s probably not potable. You can wash and maybe bathe in it, but probably not cook with it,” Clemmons said. “I think it’s been a handicap to businesses moving to Marlin.”
Sand filtration solution
Mayor Susan Byrd said she reached out to engineers for solutions before the Texas Water Development Board stepped in to approve funding for improvements.
The sand silt filtration system has a 50-year guarantee and will help reduce water rates since the city will no longer use as many chemicals to treat the water, Byrd said.
“It takes a lot of chemicals to make that water drinkable. This will eliminate 80 percent of those chemicals, so you’ll get better quality water at a cheaper price on a system that will work,” Byrd said.
The manual system will also be more reliable during power outages, according to Byrd.
“Everybody is happy. If we have a lightning strike, it won’t affect it because it’s a manual system. Sand silts have been used for 100 years tried and true,” she said.
Clemmons said he remains hopeful but cautious about the improvements.
“It’s hard to remain optimistic when we’ve been disappointed so many times. I’m an optimistic person, so I’m always looking on the brighter side, and I believe it’s going to get better for all of us,” he said.
Copyright 2025 KWTX. All rights reserved.
