Epcor has expanded its presence in the US with the acquisition of a 53-mile wholesale water supply pipeline in Texas.

The company's US subsidiary, EPCOR Water (USA), bought the 130 Pipeline infrastructure and associated contracts and debt for total consideration of about $71m, including future capacity-associated payments.

The pipeline supplies groundwater from Burleson County to eastern Travis County in the northeastern Austin, Texas metropolitan area.

The pipeline, has been designed to deliver about 18 million gallons of water daily, delivers private ground water to municipal customers in Travis city, Texas under long term contracts.

Epcor said further wholesale water supply customers can be supported by the 130 Pipeline, which delivers water from the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer in Texas with a high degree of quality, reliability and resistance to drought.

The purchase is Epcor's seventh since entering the US. It brings EPCOR USA's total investment since 2011 to $736m.

Epcor owns and operates over 3,200 miles of water distribution and sanitary collection mains and transmission pipe infrastructure across its 20 regulated water and wastewater districts in the US. 

In Canada, it has about 2,420 miles of distribution and transmission water mains in the city of Edmonton, Alberta.

In areas surrounding Edmonton, Alberta, Epcor serves more than 290,000 people in 60 communities through its wholesale water system spread in the regional network.

EPCOR USA president Joe Gysel said: "This acquisition is a natural extension of our U.S. business platform and builds off of our expertise in developing and providing water solutions in some of North America's most challenging arid environments.

"We are extremely pleased to be doing business in the state of Texas and look forward to developing and acquiring other similar businesses in the future."

From 2011, Epcor acquired several companies including Chaparral City Water Company, American Water’s Arizona and New Mexico assets and operations, North Mohave Valley Corporation, Thunder Mountain Water Company and Willow Valley Water Company.

Image: Epcor owns and operates more than 3,200 miles of water distribution and sanitary collection mains and transmission pipe infrastructure across its 20 regulated water and wastewater districts in the US. Photo: Courtesy of khunaspix at FreeDigitalPhotos.net.