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Utilities
Administration
This division provides support and clerical services for the Utilities Department, as well as receives requests from customers for water and wastewater maintenance and repair services. By calling 432-335-4625, customers can report problems such as water line breaks, leaks at the water meter, low water pressure, sewer blockages and backups.
Services
The Utilities Administration Division provides many critical support activities to the other Utilities Divisions. These include:
- Budget and Rate Development
- Capital Improvements Program Development
- Clerical Assistance
- Compliance with regulatory reporting requirements
- Cross connection control
- Provision of numerous customer service activities
- Purchasing
- Other managerial activities
Impact Fees Resources
Impact Fee Study (Adopted 8/10/2021)
Impact Fee Calculation Worksheet
Master Plans
Other Documents
Policies
Utilities GIS
Dedicated to provide digital map information for all Utilities divisions.
Duties
- Provide an inventory with critical information for water/wastewater infrastructure
- Responsible for the collection field data and maintaining updated water/wastewater maps.
- Aid in the creation of maintenance schedules for the facilities
- Supply real time facilities map data to field workers
- Present engineers with data for preliminary planning and for water and sewer modeling
- Publish paper and digital water/wastewater maps
- Scan documents and older maps for archive and more efficient research
- Assist in accurate location of water / wastewater facilities
- Train Utilities field crews in the use of GIS equipment and software
Services
The Utilities Administration Division provides many critical support activities to the other Utilities Divisions. These include:
- Budget and Rate Development
- Capital Improvements Program Development
- Clerical Assistance
- Compliance with regulatory reporting requirements
- Cross connection control
- Provision of numerous customer service activities
- Purchasing
- Other managerial activities
Maps
Laboratory Services
Laboratory Services acts as a municipal water and wastewater laboratory for the City of Odessa as well as a contract environmental laboratory for numerous other municipalities, local government agencies, water districts and businesses. Laboratory Services is a National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program Recognized Laboratory accredited by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Sample Acceptance Schedule
- Drinking Water bacteriological samples are accepted Monday through Thursday, 8 am to 3:30 pm.
- Non-Potable Water samples are accepted Monday through Thursday, 8 am to 2 pm.
Customers must have a contract in place before samples will be accepted.
Certifications
Browse annual National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program Certifications in the Archive Center.
Call 432-368-3536 for more information
Address: 817 W. 42nd St. - Gate 2
Bob Derrington Water Reclamation Plant
The City of Odessa's Bob Derrington Water Reclamation Plant is located in Midland County.
Water Treatment
The Plant receives approximately 6.9 million gallons per day (MGD) of wastewater generated in the residences and commercial/industrial facilities in Odessa. The wastewater is treated using an activated sludge process in which biological organisms are used to clean the wastewater to a quality which meets or exceeds state and federal permit limitations. After the biological process is complete, the water is filtered and disinfected with chlorine.
The Derrington Plant is manned 24 hours a day by TCEQ licensed operators.
Water Usage
The Derrington Plant has a very active reuse program for its high quality effluent. Pioneer Natural Resources takes up to 6.2 MGD for fracking purposes. Up to 3 MGD is used for irrigation purposes. Irrigation customers include golf courses, city parks, and one of Texas' first residential reuse projects. Reuse water is also used at Memorial Gardens to maintain a satisfactory water level in the pond.
Waste
Sludge generated at the Derrington Plant is dewatered using a belt filter press and is disposed of at a TCEQ approved landfill.
Pretreatment & Liquid Waste
The Derrington Plant is also home to the Pretreatment Division. They conduct inspections on all grease traps, sand traps, and liquid waste haulers for all of Ector County. If you have any questions on traps, Ordinances, or Liquid Waste, please contact the Pretreatment Department at 432-563-0791 or 432-563-3417.
Applications
Wastewater Collection
All wastewater discharged is collected and conveyed to the Bob Derrington Water Reclamation Plant utilizing about 500 miles of sewer lines.
Responsibilities
The Wastewater Collection Division employees respond to problems in the collection system which could result in inconvenience to the customer. Our planned maintenance program involves rehabilitation of manholes and cleaning and vacuuming service lines to remove accumulated grease and debris in the City's main lines. Using a crawler mounted TV camera, wastewater collection lines are regularly inspected for deterioration which could lead to failure and are scheduled for repair or replacement.
The employees in this Division work hard to ensure that our customers have uninterrupted sewer service.
Updating Old Infrastructure
In addition, sewer service connections are provided to new developments and to existing buildings. A portion of the aging infrastructure in the wastewater collection system is replaced annually as part of the Utilities Department's Capital Improvements Program.
Water Distribution
Water from the Treatment Plant is conveyed to approximately 32,000 customers using approximately 600 miles of water lines.
Responsibilities
The Water Distribution Division employees strive to provide 24-hour coverage to respond to emergencies and to ensure minimum disruption to water service. We have proactive maintenance programs for all appurtenances in the system such as:
- Exercising isolation valves
- Repairs to fire hydrants
- Replacement of deteriorating lines
- Water meter replacement
Even with the preventive maintenance program, water lines break. City of Odessa's Utility Department employees do whatever it takes to repair these lines and restore water service to our customers as quickly as possible.
Updating Old Infrastructure
Water Distribution crews are constantly making connections to provide water service to new construction and to existing buildings occupied by new customers. As a part of the Utilities Department's Capital Improvements Program, a portion of the aging or undersized water distribution lines are replaced annually.
Water Treatment Plant
The Water Treatment Plant is located in Ector County Texas. All of the water processed at the plant is purchased untreated from the Colorado River Municipal Water District (CRMWD).
Source of Untreated Water
Surface or lake water is received year round. The majority of the surface water comes from Lake Ivie; however, water can be received from Lake Spence and Lake Thomas. During the warm weather months, groundwater is received from a well field in Ward County.
Treatment
The surface water receives full treatment including:
- Coagulation
- Flocculation
- Sedimentation
- Filtration
- pH Adjustment
- Disinfection
Chemicals used in the coagulation process include alum (aluminum sulfate) and a polymer. Sodium hydroxide is used to adjust the pH of the water to ensure that it is stable, or non-corrosive. A chloramine disinfectant (combination of chlorine and ammonia) is used to ensure the bacteriological quality of the water through disinfection. The well water only requires pH adjustment with sodium hydroxide and disinfection with chloramines.
Storage of Treated Water
After treatment, water is stored on-site in covered clear wells until it is pumped into the distribution system. In addition to the water storage facilities at the Plant, there are three overhead water towers located in the water distribution system. These towers not only serve as storage facilities, but they also help enhance water pressures in the distribution system.
The Water Treatment Plant is designed to treat 50 million gallons per day (MGD), based on filter capacity. In addition, approximately 20 MGD of well water can be processed. The total amount of water treated annually is approximately 7 billion gallons.
Water Quality Standards
The City of Odessa's water supply is approved by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The water meets all of the Primary Drinking Water Standards established by the TCEQ and the Environmental Protection Agency to protect the public health.
The Water Treatment Plant is manned 24 hours per day by TCEQ licensed operators. In addition to the operational staff, maintenance personnel conduct preventive maintenance as well as the repairs required to ensure water can be processed and pumped into the distribution system on a continuous basis.
Water Quality Reports
FAQ's
Billing
For billing questions regarding your utility/water bill, please contact the Billing and Collection Department.