C1.01 Water Transmission & Elevated Storage Tank
Sponsor: Freese & Nichols
Student Team: Gabriela Solis, Otto Sanchez, Mark Peterman, Michael Cartwright
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Felipe Gutierrez
This project focuses on the planning and design of an elevated storage tank system to support reliable water distribution in the city of Austin. The study will include an analysis of different pipe sizes to evaluate flow capacity and pressure performance, along with a comparison of alternative pipe materials for cost, durability, and maintenance considerations. In addition, potential site locations and pipe networks will be assessed to optimize hydraulic efficiency, accessibility, and cost. The goal is to provide a comprehensive basis for selecting the most effective configuration that balances performance, longevity, and overall project cost.
C1.02 Sedimentation Basin 1
Sponsor: STV Inc.
Student Team: Drew Simmonds, Patrick Figueroa, Orlando Mora-Torres, Diego Aguilar
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Felipe Gutierrez
Alongside STV, we will be designing a sedimentation basin to remove iron and other harmful sediments from a 40 MGD water treatment system in the city of San Marcos. The current amount of iron present in the water has a maximum level of 10mg/L, and it must be reduced down to an acceptable level based on regulations while keeping track of other project parameters. Through site and code guidelines, specific sediment removal processes will be added into the water treatment system in order to reduce harmful sediments that are in the water currently.
C1.03 Iron Removal from Water - Sedimentation Tank
Sponsor: STV Inc.
Student Team: Clay Kinsey, Mckenna Maeker, William Plunket, Gage Royer
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Felipe Gutierrez
The goal of this project is to design a system capable of removing iron from water. The system is to have a flowrate of 40MGPD and the raw water has been determined to contain ~10mg/L of iron. The project will research and examine various alternatives to remove the iron to sufficient standards levels and make a recommendation on the preferred design.
C1.04 2026 WEAT Student Design Competition
Sponsor: City of El Paso & Carollo Engineers
Student Team: Sydney Whelton, Jack Fowler, David Ixtabalan, Kenneth Martinez, and Kevin Raul Chavez
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Felipe Gutierrez
Hill Country Water Works is a student-led group tasked to develop upgrades for the John T. Hickerson Water Reclamation Facility in El Paso, Texas. Our work focuses on documenting the plant’s current performance and constraints, like recurring wet-weather peaks and higher organic loads, within site limits and TCEQ requirements. We’ll produce a clear hydraulic profile, phasing plan to keep the facility online, and an order-of-probable construction cost with operations considerations. The goal is a resilient, operator-friendly path that supports El Paso’s growth and protects the Rio Grande.
C1.05 Residential Land Development
Sponsor: CUDE Engineers
Student Team: Jesse Manchaca, Sebastian Delgado, Spencer Haynes, Adhish Shahi
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Felipe Gutierrez
Our team has been tasked with the comprehensive land development of a 10 acre lot in Seguin, Texas on FM 725. Our goal is to design a residential single-family community that maximizes the available lot space while meeting all local requirements and regulations. The project will proceed in two phases: the first phase will produce a comprehensive land plan, followed by the second phase, which will develop the more detailed infrastructure design.
C1.06 Concrete Canoe
Sponsor: Ingram School of Engineering (ISoE)
Student Team: Adan Guerra, Ama Afrane, Jorge Rodriguez, Louis Smith, Daniel Tobon
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Felipe Gutierrez
The first intercollegiate concrete canoe competition took place in the 1970s. Since then, the designs and concepts have been elevated and expanded greatly, pushing colleges across the country to create lighter, faster, and more efficient canoes all while keeping them concrete. This year marks Texas State’s first time competing, and our team plans to design and build a canoe that balances lightweight construction, durability, and strong buoyancy to perform successfully and proudly represent our school.