PROJECT OVERVIEW
Cities across Texas are facing the same challenge:
water scarcity, explosive growth, aging infrastructure, and stormwater systems that waste the very water cities need.
The Hutto Circular Water Initiative introduces a new model — a closed-loop system that converts treated effluent into clean, safe, reusable potable water. It captures water cities traditionally lose, strengthens drought resilience, and sets the foundation for a completely new era of urban design.
For the first time in Texas, a city has the opportunity to demonstrate a circular water system capable of transforming how communities secure their water future.
This project is delivered through a partnership between Lupine Development & Consulting (LDC), Lupine Texas Infrastructure Group (LTIG), and Skillicorn Texas, supported by international engineering teams including one of the largest civil engineering firms in Canada.
It is fully privately funded.
No cost to the City.
No new taxes or bonds.
No burden on ratepayers.
A NEW MODEL FOR TEXAS CITIES
Traditional water systems are linear:
Take water
Use water
Discharge water
Circular water systems are different. They:
Capture more
Reuse more
Waste less
Create new supply from existing flows
Reduce stormwater loss
Scale with population growth
This initiative builds a blueprint for how future cities in Texas can grow sustainably, even as water demand accelerates.
PROJECT STRUCTURE
The initiative unfolds in three major phases, each building on proven results from the stage before it:
Phase 0 — Pilot Demonstration (20,000 GPD)
Purpose: Prove the system. Generate data. Validate the regulatory pathway.
The pilot is a compact demonstration system on the triangular parcel near the existing wastewater treatment plant. It will:
Accept treated effluent
Convert it into up to 20,000 gallons per day of potable water
Demonstrate system performance in real Central Texas conditions
Provide data to TCEQ, BRA, and the City
Establish the foundation for scaling
This phase confirms what is already known globally:
that treated effluent can be safely and reliably polished into potable water.
« « | » »
Phase 1 — Operational Deployment at Triangle Site
Purpose: Begin real capacity expansion and operationalize circular water.
After the pilot proves successful, the system will expand at the triangle site to process actual wastewater flows. Through vertical stacking technology, the site will produce significantly higher volumes within the same footprint.
Phase 1 becomes Hutto’s first circular potable water asset, directly supporting:
Housing development
Commercial growth
Water resilience planning
Long-term sustainability
This is the first phase that meaningfully increases Hutto’s supply.
« « | » »
Phase 2 — Full-Scale 4 MGD System at a New Site
Purpose: Deliver transformational water capacity and eco-product production.
Phase 2 is the flagship system — a fully scaled circular water facility capable of treating up to four million gallons per day, with:
High-volume potable production
Eco-product outputs (fish, plant biomass, etc.)
Stormwater reintegration
Energy-efficient treatment processes
A closed-loop ecosystem designed for long-term growth
This phase lays the groundwork for a city that can grow without hitting water ceilings.
FUTURE ECO-SCIENCE PARK
The triangle site will gradually transform into a public-facing Eco-Science Park, showcasing circular water, vertical agriculture, and sustainable urban systems.
Projected components include:
Transparent water pathways
Vertical greenhouse structures
Aquaponics producing fish and produce
A small restaurant serving food grown on-site
STEM programs and school tours
Demonstration modules for city planners across Texas
Research and economic development opportunities
This is where the community will see — and experience — the future of water, food, and sustainability.
COMMUNITY BENEFITS
Long-Term Water Capacity
Phases 1 and 2 add meaningful potable water production to support Hutto’s continued growth, reducing dependency on external supply sources.
Zero Cost to the City
All phases are privately funded — no financial impact to the City or its residents.
Stormwater Reuse & Urban Resilience
Future phases incorporate stormwater capture, turning overflow into usable supply rather than letting it leave the system unused.
Workforce Protection & Higher Wages
Every employee at the current wastewater facility will:
Keep their job
Transition into upgraded roles
Receive higher wages
Gain new technical training
Become part of a new green-infrastructure workforce
No layoffs.
Only opportunity.
Economic Development
The Eco-Science Park will generate:
Local jobs
Tourism
Educational programs
Commercial activity
New restaurant revenue
Regional visibility
Environmental Leadership
Hutto becomes a statewide model of circular urban water — a city that captures, reuses, and regenerates its own supply.
REGULATORY & ENGINEERING FRAMEWORK
The initiative is advancing in collaboration with:
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)
Brazos River Authority (BRA)
International engineering oversight
Local engineering firms
LTIG and Skillicorn Texas
A previous 2013 TCEQ review of similar polishing systems found no conceptual barriers to approval, giving the project a strong regulatory foundation.
Each phase will follow a controlled, data-driven validation process.
PROJECT PARTNERS
This initiative is being advanced collaboratively with:
Lupine Development & Consulting LLC
Project leadership, municipal coordination, proposal development
Lupine Texas Infrastructure Group (LTIG)
On-the-ground operations, engineering management, and long-term system oversight
Skillicorn Texas / Skillicorn Holdings
Technology originator and systems integration partner
International Engineering Firms
Design validation, modeling, and global deployment experience
Private Investors
Funding for pilot, scaling, and full-phase build-out
City of Hutto
Regulatory coordination and community partnership
TCEQ (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality)BRA (Brazos River Authority)
TCEQ (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality)
BRA (Brazos River Authority)
Oversight, permitting, and water-resource integration
CURRENT STATUS
The project team is finalizing:
Pilot modeling
Phase 1 and Phase 2 scaling projections
Regulatory documentation
Municipal and investor proposals
Eco-Science Park programming
A full municipal proposal will be submitted in mid-December 2025.
Updates will be posted here as development continues.
CONTACT
For inquiries related to partnerships, engineering collaboration, or media coverage:
HUTTO NCE TEAM