The Water Utilities Technical Assistance Program: An on ramp to TWDB financial assistance

The Water Utilities Technical Assistance Program: An on ramp to TWDB financial assistance Posted on February 12, 2026

Many water systems in Texas do not have the luxury of ample resources. Administration and field staff wear many hats, juggling operations, reporting, and maintaining a balanced budget. For some utilities, trying to secure funding for an infrastructure project can be a daunting process.

The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) Water Utilities Technical Assistance Program (WUTAP)provides support to program participants by helping build the capabilities that systems need before applying for financial assistance.

At its core, WUTAP provides access to experts who help prepare participants so that future financial assistance applications have the best chance to succeed. For cities, water supply corporations, and districts looking for financial assistance from the TWDB, WUTAP helps identify opportunities to strengthen systems and better position them to receive funding.

What is WUTAP?

WUTAP is not a grant or a loan. And it's not a shortcut around requirements needed to secure financial assistance through the TWDB. WUTAP is a state-funded support program designed to help water and wastewater systems build the technical, managerial, and financial capacity needed to qualify for future TWDB financial assistance. The TWDB provides up to $150,000 for services, while participating systems contribute time, data, and engagement to fully leverage those services.

WUTAP targets the areas that most often slow down or derail funding applications, such as incomplete documentation, outdated plans, and weak financial structures. So, the program connects eligible systems with experienced, TWDB-approved technical assistance providers that work directly with utilities to strengthen their applications. Deliverables of the program include

• approvable water conservation plans;
• successful submission of project information forms/abridged applications;
• successful submission of financial assistance applications for invited entities;
• summary reports with recommendations for financial management controls and operating processes;
• a completed rate study; and
• completed training regarding state revolving fund procurement requirements, including submission of documentation for federal reporting purposes.

The work is tailored to each system's needs, so the documentation produced can differ from system to system. The process turns raw information into actionable plans that demonstrate to the TWDB that participating utilities understand their obligations and can manage them responsibly.

At times, applications for TWDB financial assistance cannot be fulfilled, not because the projects are unworthy, but because systems are not fully prepared to meet the requirements of receiving assistance. For example, financial records may be incomplete, rate structures may not support long-term debt repayment, and required plans may exist on paper but not in practice.

According to Patrick Kading, Manager of Federal Program Administration at the TWDB, WUTAP was created intentionally and deliberately to help prospective applicants better prepare for the funding application process and the requirements that come with it.

"While water and wastewater systems, especially smaller entities, focus on the operations and maintenance of their systems," says Kading, "sometimes the financial operations and processes for the entity do not get the attention that they need. WUTAP aims to help these systems put themselves in a stronger position to not only apply and be approved for funding for their projects but also help to ensure that the systems can be operated in a fiscally sustainable manner, while meeting the current and future needs of their customers."

Who can qualify for WUTAP?

WUTAP is open to all Texas water and wastewater systems that intend to apply for TWDB financial assistance, such as municipalities, districts, and water supply corporations. Prior experience with the TWDB is not required, and there are no size restrictions or requirements for participant systems.

Eligibility focuses on intent and need, not polish or prior success. The TWDB evaluates applications based on prioritization criteriameant to maximize the impact of the program and aid systems facing operational or financial challenges. Financial assistance alone does not guarantee that systems will be successful. The true challenge is whether a system can operate and maintain its infrastructure and repay debt over time. WUTAP addresses that challenge early and helps utilities strengthen their financial management, clarify operational practices, and document long-term planning before money is on the table.

Lesa Hearon, Public Works Director for the City of La Coste, Texas, a small community east of San Antonio, participated in WUTAP in 2024. "We have a lot of aging infrastructure, including transmission lines, storage tanks, and an old well that need replacing," says Hearon. With less than 2,000 residents, Hearon knew that La Coste would need to get funding from the TWDB to do the work-but WUTAP wasn't just a path to funding. According to Hearon, "the most important thing we got out of the program was learning how to conduct a rate study so we could justify our rate increases to the city council and ratepayers. Going through the process not only brought awareness to the council of the actual costs of delivering water but also made me a better water operator."

Rebecca Hallmark, Superintendent at Garner Independent School District, also went through the program in 2024. Several years ago, she realized that Garner was growing and the school district's traditional anaerobic septic system could not keep up with the number of new students. Hallmark explored applying to the TWDB for funding to construct a wastewater treatment plant for the district, but she did not know much about wastewater treatment or the information the TWDB needs to consider providing funding. Hallmark is an educator, not a water operator, so WUTAP was exactly what she needed. "The program is phenomenal and the team that I worked with was absolutely amazing," says Hallmark. "The contractor we were paired with helped me find the information I needed and was flexible working within my schedule. And, if something else was needed, they brought in experts to help."

How does WUTAP participation work?

The process for joining WUTAP is straightforward:

1. Utilities may submit applications at any time using the TWDB online WUTAP Participant System Applicationor email a completed WUTAP Participant System Application PDFto [email protected].
   
   
2. The TWDB scores and ranks applications based on the prioritization criteria.
   
   
3. Selected systems are matched with qualified providers.
   
   
4. An executed Memorandum of Agreement between the system and the TWDB defines the engagement.

The key for program participants is to consider the deliverables associated with WUTAP as living tools that should be updated, referenced, and leveraged to guide governing board and staff decisions. The primary goal is for water utilities to become better prepared to deliver long-term results for their communities, which is foundational to creating a secure water future for Texas.

This article is posted in Financial Assistance.