ECTOR COUNTY, Texas — Water has been a pressing issue in Odessa for much of the year, and over in Ector County, a multi-phased project is underway to help alleviate the strain on residents.
The Ector County Utility District (ECUD) has been providing water to more than 2,000 residents in West Odessa since the 1970s. However, as with all infrastructure, the water lines have aged, prompting the Ector County Commissioners Court and Ector County Judge Dustin Fawcett to take action.
“The Ector County commissioners court, back in 2021 or 2022, before I took office, allocated $10 million of American Rescue Plan Act dollars,” Fawcett said. “The county received $32 million, and we allocated $10 million toward these ECUD water projects. So, this is part of those plans.”
To use the ARPA funds, the county had to follow specific guidelines and requirements.
“We have an ARPA specialist from GrantWorks who has helped ensure everything qualifies under ARPA,” Fawcett added. “Kimley-Horn, the engineers overseeing the designs, have done a great job. We feel confident the vendors have checked every box.”
Unfortunately, the $10 million will not be used to add new water lines but to reinforce existing ones.
“That’s something I wish we had done—add new users to the system,” Fawcett said. “But this will reinforce aging infrastructure, which is still a good project. Maybe not as high of a priority for those without water, but for those with water, it bolsters the system.”
This project has been in development for two years, and with commissioners approving another key step, West Odessans are one step closer to reliable water access.