Austin expands "purple pipes" in Travis Heights
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Purple pipe construction at Alameda Drive in Travis Heights. Photo: Bob Gee/Axios
Austin is expanding its purple pipe network through Travis Heights, part of an effort to save drinking water for when Austin really needs it.
Why it matters: After years of drought, Central Texas' reservoirs are finally full again, but continued population growth and the prospect of future, more severe droughts are pushing Austin to find ways to make that water last longer.
Driving the news: Purple pipes — the industry color for recycled water piping — are reclaimed water lines. Crews are working to expand those lines in Travis Heights, where they'll eventually run along Fairmount Avenue, Monroe Street, and Alameda and East Side drives.
- Austin Water customers used more than 1.8 billion gallons of reclaimed water in 2025, up from roughly 1.2 billion gallons in 2015, per the utility.
How it works: Reclaimed wastewater is wastewater that's treated and piped back to customers for non-drinking uses, including irrigation, toilet flushing and cooling buildings.
- The Travis Heights project will add 4,500 feet of purple pipes, connecting the northern and southern portions of Austin's reclaimed water system.
- Residential customers can connect to the line.
- "The new infrastructure will help increase resiliency of the reclaimed water distribution system and allow for more customers to utilize reclaimed water," a spokesperson with Austin Water tells Axios.
The big picture: Austin's drinking water comes from lakes Travis and Buchanan, which are expected to face increasing pressure from population growth, drought and climate change.
- Lake Travis is currently at 94.8% full and reached capacity for the first time in a decade in July, but Austin's long-term water plan is designed to prepare for droughts potentially more severe than those the region has experienced before.
- Every gallon of water that is recycled is one gallon that doesn't need to be sourced from the Highland Lakes and treated for drinking water use, according to Austin Water.
By the numbers: Austin has invested about $110 million in its reclaimed water infrastructure through 2025, per Austin Water.
- The purple pipe system is largely paid for through customer water bills, including regular water rates and a 15-cent surcharge per 1,000 gallons of water.
- Plus, Austin Water has a voluntarily monthly contribution option called Purple Choice, which allows customers to add a $6 monthly contribution to their utility bill.
What's next: The Travis Heights purple pipe project began earlier this year and is expected to take 21 months.