Comments on: Phase 1 – Raw Water Line on Trails End Road

By: admin

admin — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 16:28:27 +0000

Thank you for your post. You may be aware that our planning reflects long-term, as well as short-term, needs. We have no indication that the forecasted growth of our three cities over the next 20 years will be smaller because of current economic conditions. However, the temporarily slowed pace of new water demand has allowed us to delay construction of Phase I of the project for six months to allow financial markets to settle.

The most recent cost information and information on our cities’ conservation initiatives can found on the "project at a glance" page and on the “conservation” page of this website.

We desire to be good neighbors. The fact is, without the cooperative effort of our three partner cities, one water supply project would most certainly have been three—with three lake intakes, three pipelines and three water treatment plants. Our project is an effort to streamline that effort and, in turn, to minimize costs and impacts on the environment and our neighbors. In addition, a due diligence study will be conducted to identify possible impacts and find ways to mitigate them accordingly. A report on the results of the study will be posted on this website when complete.

By: Gay Klinger

Gay Klinger — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 05:32:15 +0000

Given the current economic crisis, that appears to be worsening daily how can the three cities-Round Rock, Leander and Cedar Park ethically burden their citizens with the enormous debt that this project will cost each city? Do the citizens of those cities really know how much more each of them will have to pay to fund this project? The rate of growth that the three cities origianally projected is certainly not accurate now. Have they reajusted their growth projections, considered alternative water sources, seriously considered the negative environmental impact for both the Trails End Vallley and the City of Volente? What is the current projected cost of the project? Do the cities really need the water ? Do the cities have water conservation plans in place? The two communities effected will not be able to secure water from the BCRUA Project. They will get noise, polution and a loss of many native trees and grasses. Where is the environmentalprotection for these communities?

By: Judy Graci

Judy Graci — Mon, 26 May 2008 19:07:56 +0000

Through open records one aquifer company stated that’s its plan to Round Rock was over-estimated by $180M. Does that make it $120M less than Lake Travis water? Why wasn’t aquifer water estimated partnering with the other neighboring cities? Isn’t there an economy of scale savings? You have not thoroughly researched other water sources.

This option would give Cedar Park and Leander a second source of water. The Carrizo or Simsboro aquifer is said to be drought-proof. The aquifer water also is in the State/Regional Plan as the best, long range water source for Williamson County.

The 2007 State Plan used cost figures for this Project from 1999 at $202M. Is the Project double that now? Should it be in the State Plan? The region’s safety and economic health depends on your due diligence.

By: Will Hampton, City of Round Rock

Will Hampton, City of Round Rock — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 22:18:47 +0000

We’ve created a new post on the Texas Water Development Board action, since it looks like people want to comment on it. Please make further comments about that issue under that post.

To correct Mr. Dahleen’s comment, and I assume it was a typo, the Phase 1 loan was for $170 million.

The BCRUA has been seriously considering other intake sites and designs for months. In fact, we kicked off a study to do just that at a public meeting in Volente on Nov. 15. Our second public meeting on that study is scheduled for Feb. 21 at the Volente Fire Hall.

We looked at the case for “aquifer water” in Round Rock as part of a study we conducted in 2005. The lowest-priced option for groundwater was $78 million more than partnering with our neighbors to access Lake Travis water. The study is available for review in our Documents section, titled “Lake Travis Raw Water Supply Study.”

As TWDB staff noted at the meeting, the BCRUA partner cities meet the TWDB conservation requirements.

The City of Round Rock currently uses reuse water to irrigate the city-owned Forest Creek Golf Course, and has plans to expand its reuse system to irrigate Old Settlers Park.

By: Bill Dahleen

Bill Dahleen — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 00:38:24 +0000

BREAKING NEWS:
TWDB MEETING RESULTS:
35 speakers spoke to an overflow crowd against the ill-conceived BCRUA water pipeline project at the TWDB meeting on January 28.
The Board seemed to have serious reservations about the project, thanks to all the professionally prepared speakers! The Board members were hesitant to commit the total $309 million loan. Final decision was to commit $170,000 for Phase I and require BCRUA to request funds for Phase II at a later date after solid plans and studies are in place.

Their decision forces BCRUA to seriously consider other intake sites and types as well as realize they are being closely watched by more than just DELTA. It also gives DELTA time to prepare an even better case for aquifer water, conservation and reuse.

By: Bill Dahleen

Bill Dahleen — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 00:36:19 +0000

good day , as most of you know the T.W.D.B voted to fund phase 1 of this massive project . sadly they had no other choice .