LAREDO — Laredo Utilities staff updated the advisory committee on ongoing infrastructure projects, reporting progress on a pipe-replacement pilot, an impending contract to stabilize an eroded wastewater bank, and plans for a centralized laboratory.

Staff said a contractor using pipe-bursting methods has completed about 35% of the targeted work and roughly 10,000 feet of pipe; if successful, staff plans another 30,000 feet of similar work next year. “We have a company came from Florida…doing 30,000 feet of pipe bursting. And we're right now, 35% done. So we're almost done 10,000 feet of pipes,” Dr. G said.

On wastewater infrastructure, staff said an engineering study is complete for stabilizing the failing bank near the wastewater field, and the department expects to award a stabilization contract soon to shore up the bank and reduce environmental risk.

Staff also described plans for a central laboratory to reduce reliance on out-of-city labs for water and wastewater testing; the goal is to bring more testing in-house for faster turnaround on parameters such as MIB, heavy metals and turbidity. The central lab effort is part of staff’s capital-plan priorities; timing and budget were not finalized in the meeting.

No formal votes were taken on these projects at the committee meeting; staff requested committee input on contractor sourcing and local participation as projects advance.