Bastrop city officials say Wastewater Treatment Plant No. 3 will soon become obsolete, as the facility needs retrofitting to meet the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s new phosphorus level readings and discharge into the Colorado River requirements.

What residents should know: A $5 million Faraday Reactor, a water treatment technology capable of converting effluent into potable water, was identified as a viable solution and will be discussed during a March 24 Bastrop City Council meeting. 

Carrillo-Trevino emphasized that this course of action has the best return on investment.

“This water can be used for industry or sold to neighboring jurisdictions in need of water,” she said. “During times of extreme need, it can also be used as a drinking water source. However, that is not the city’s intended use at this time.”

The outlook: If the city enters negotiations with VVater, the water treatment technology provider, for the $5 million Faraday Reactor, Bastrop city staff will present cost and bond information for possible action at an April 10 meeting, according to city documents.

Freebirds World Burrito is expanding its Central Texas presence with its first location in Bastrop, bringing more Tex-Mex options to the growing community.

What we know: The Bastrop spot will be in the Burleson Crossing East shopping center, developers Durham & Bassett Realty Group confirmed with Community Impact.

Neighboring tenants in the Burleson Crossing East shopping center include: 

• Sprouts Farmers Market
• LongHorn Steakhouse
• Aspen Dental
• First Watch

• Opening TBD
• Burleson Crossing East, 600 block of Hwy. 71 W., Bastrop 

Check out some of the most-read stories in Austin from March 16-19. 

1. 44,000-square-foot indoor sports club headed to Leander, Cedar Park

2. Round Rock outlet mall to get refresh

3. Luxury retailer in San Marcos outlets prepares to close with major sale

4. 320-unit apartment complex coming to Liberty Hill, Georgetown line

5. 'Future of aviation': Air taxi testing coming to Austin under federal pilot program

6. From breakfast to barbecue: Check out these 15 business updates in Southwest Austin
 

More than 229,000 students have applied to receive state funds for private education or homeschooling under Texas’ education savings account program, according to the state comptroller’s office.

By the numbers: State data indicates that the most applications have been submitted on behalf of students living in urban areas and the surrounding suburban communities. As of March 8, students living in Houston ISD’s boundaries led the pack with over 8,900 applications, followed by 6,700 applicants in Dallas ISD.

The data reflects how many students living in each district's boundaries have applied, including those not currently enrolled in a public school.

The background: State lawmakers created the Texas Education Freedom Accounts program in 2025.

Students accepted for the 2026-27 school year will receive $10,474 for private education or up to $2,000 for homeschool. Students with disabilities can receive up to $30,000 each.

More details: Of the first 152,000 program applicants, nearly three-quarters were not enrolled in a public school during the 2025-26 school year, data obtained by the Texas Center for Voucher Transparency shows.