Laredo plans $119M in water, wastewater projects
Laredo is planning $119.2 million in water and wastewater infrastructure projects for fiscal year 2026-27 to address aging systems. This investment comes as residents raise concerns about potential data center development and its water and electricity demands, prompting the city to consider new regulations.
The City of Laredo is proposing a $1.02 billion budget for fiscal year 2026-27, allocating $119.2 million for critical water and wastewater infrastructure projects. These investments, highlighted by Utilities Director Tareq Al-Zabet and City Manager Joe Neeb, aim to upgrade aging pipes, improve water pressure, enhance treatment facilities, and bolster system redundancy, addressing long-standing community concerns about water quality and service reliability.
While a significant portion of these projects lacks full funding, the Utilities Department is actively pursuing over $80 million in grants from the Texas Water Development Board, North American Development Bank, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This infrastructure push coincides with growing public debate over potential data center development in Laredo. Residents have voiced strong concerns regarding the substantial water and electricity consumption of large data centers, prompting City Manager Joseph Neeb to engage with interested developers and initiate discussions on potential regulations, although no formal data center applications have been submitted to date.