Coryell County's Gatesville Gets $775,840 for Water Tower Rehab

Gatesville has been awarded $775,840 in federal Community Project Funding to rehabilitate or replace an elevated water tank that supplies the city and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s Alfred D. Hughes Unit, Congressman John Carter announced at a press conference on January 28, 2026.

The funding responds to a city engineer’s assessment that the tower was “on the brink of failure,” a condition city officials say threatens daily water pressure and emergency reserves. The money was requested formally to the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations on April 25, 2024 and was authorized for purposes under Section 1452 of the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Congressman John Carter presented the check at the press event and framed the award in community terms. “This is where our real people live,” Carter said. “So the best we can do to get our services to them means a lot. Water and wastewater is a big deal to everybody in Texas.” Gatesville City Manager Brad Hunt expressed gratitude for the federal assistance, with Hunt noting that rural communities “can only do so much before it becomes too much of a burden for taxpayers.”

City and public-safety officials emphasize the utility of the elevated tank beyond everyday taps. KWTX reported that the tank distributes water to the city’s utility system, reduces the need for additional pumping stations and the associated energy costs, and serves as a reserve during power outages, pump failures or natural disasters. The tank also helps maintain consistent water pressure for firefighting, irrigation and domestic use and contributes to water quality by safeguarding against surface contamination and preventing backflow.

Local leaders now face choices about whether the awarded funds will finance a full replacement or an extensive rehabilitation. Reports describe the funding as available to “rehabilitate or replace” the structure, but the final scope and timeline remain to be determined by Gatesville officials and engineering consultants. Officials will need to confirm whether $775,840 covers full replacement costs or will be matched with local funds or phased work.

For residents, the grant means a bolstered safety net for firefighting capacity and household water reliability, and it could reduce future rate pressure by lowering emergency infrastructure costs. Next steps for the city include finalizing engineering specifications, determining the exact use of the funds, and scheduling repairs or replacement work. Gatesville officials and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice will be key contacts as the project moves from announcement to construction, and the community can expect updates on project plans and timelines in the weeks ahead.