The Texas Water Development Board met on June 21 to discuss outreach efforts and activities by the Board, consider approving by resolutions, and discussed water conditions in Texas. During their meeting, the TWDB approved financial assistance totaling $22,242,400 for water and wastewater system projects. Of this funding, $7,816,000 was approved for rural water projects.

This report is intended to give you an overview and highlight of the discussions on the various topics the committee took up. This report is not a verbatim transcript of the hearing; it is based upon what was audible or understandable to the observer and the desire to get details out as quickly as possible with few errors or omissions.

 

Item 1: Discussion regarding outreach efforts and activities by the Board.

Kathleen Jackson, Board Member

  • Discusses the workshop she attended last week
  • Tour the new million gallon a waste water treatment plant in Floresville, Texas

Brooke T. Paul, Board Member

  • Attended the Texas Water Conservation meeting in Conroe
  • Toured the San Jacinto River water facilities

 

Item 2: Consider approving by resolution a request from the City of Bangs (Brown County) for $1,760,000 in financing from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund for planning, design, and construction of water system improvements.

Lee Huntoon, Executive Administrator Staff

  • Details the problems within the City of Bangs
    • City of Bangs serves 1599 customers with 854 connections; has identified issues managing disinfection residuals and nitrification within its distribution systems
  • The city intends to construct disinfection facilities at its pump station, modify elevated storage tank, and replace existing water lines, etc.
  • The city is pledging ad valorem taxes and surplus net revenues of water and sewer systems for the repayment of the proposed financing
  • Also, the city plans to increase user rates by $9-10 in October 2018 prior to closing
  • Executive administrator recommends the approval of the requests
  • Item 2 unanimously passed

 

Item 3: Consider approving by resolution a request from Brenda Lopez, doing business as Green Acres Riverview Water Works, also known as Green Acres Mobile Home Park (El Paso County) for $216,000 in principal forgiveness from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund for planning, design, and construction of a water system improvements project.

Lee Huntoon, Execuative Administrator Staff

  • The Green Acres Mobile Home Park currently serves 150 residents
  • The water system has received many violations for exceeding the arsenic contaminant level and are in violation with the TCEQ
  • Proposing to update water meters, flesh valve, etc.
  • TCEQ completed a review which says the applicant can proceed but lacks the resources
  • A corrective action plan is required to complete the project
  • Executive administrator recommends the approval
  • Jackson- Can you talk more about Communities Unlimited?
    • Communities Unlimited provides assistance to small cities or communities and help them with any issues
    • Worked hand in hand with Green Acres Mobile Home Park to successfully guide them through the project
  • Jackson- I appreciate the collaborative effort in this project.
  • Item 3 unanimously passed

 

Item 4: Consider approving by resolution a request from the City of Boyd (Wise County) for $5,840,000 in multi-year financing from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund for planning, acquisition, design, and construction of water system improvements.

Luis Farias, Executive Administrator Staff

  • The city’s water facility is experiencing high water pressure when in use which causes issues to the current systems
  • There are high levels of lead and copper
  • The plan calls for 2 new wells, new pumps, and a half a million-gallon water tank
  • Jackson- Great working with this small community and thank you for addressing the lead and copper.
  • Item 4 unanimously passed

 

Item 5: Consider approving by resolution a request from Kerr County (Kerr County) for $14,426,400 in financial assistance consisting of $4,330,000 in financing and $10,096,400 in principal forgiveness from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund for design and construction of improvements to wastewater treatment facilities to provide first time wastewater service to Center Point and surrounding areas in eastern Kerr County.

Dane Larson, Executive Administrator Staff

  • Plan to make waste water collection facilities
  • The current facilities rely on septic systems with bad history
  • The facility will create 939 first time connections through the completion of 3 phases
  • The first phase will be completed by late 2019 and 10% is already completed; When finished, Phase 1 will provide 400+ connections
  • Request $33 million which will make the total TWDB funding for this project $60 million
  • Paul- What is the estimated date of completion for all three phases?
    • October of 2020
  • Paul- And they are on schedule right now?
    • First phase has begun and will be done by late 2019

 

Jonathan Letz, Kerr County Commissioners Court

  • We are ahead of schedule and have 33% complete right now
  • Hope to have first customers online in September or October
  • Speaks about the Kerrville Project from 2005
  • Emphasizes projects to keep the Guadalupe River clean
  • Item 5 unanimously passed

 

Item 6: Briefing and discussion on water conditions in the state of Texas.      

Mark Wetzel, Executive Administrator Staff

  • Flood information from recent rains
    • There are large amounts of moisture from pacific and gulf
    • Describes the map symbols shown on the screen
  • Drought conditions
    • Shows June 12 Drought Monitor
    • May 2018 was a disappointment on rain, 19th driest month in Texas in over 100 years
    • Removal of drought conditions in West Texas
    • Drought moving to east Texas and coastal cities
    • Drought increased from 43% to 50% in mid-May to mid-June
    • Latest drought map shows a decrease to 47% which includes drought improvement around the coast
    • Should see additional improvement in the coming days; Next map out on June 26 will show improvement
  • Impact of Drought
    • Tapped into the reservoirs more than we wanted to
    • Shows data on reservoir conservation storage
    • 3 percentage points below the median reservoir use should be
    • Shows major municipal reservoir system storage graphic
      • Worried about systems out west
    • What to expect over the next few months
      • Shows U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook graphic
      • Expect improvements along the coast and western panhandle

 

Item 7: The Board will receive comments from the public on any matters within the jurisdiction of the TWDB, with the exception of matters which are subject to the ex parte prohibition found in Texas Government Code Section 2001.061.

  • No public testimony

 

Item 8: The Board may conduct a closed meeting to receive legal advice and discuss pending or contemplated litigation, settlement offers, and/or the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline or dismissal of specific Board employees, including the Executive Administrator and General Counsel, as permitted by Sections 551.071 and 551.074, the Texas Open Meetings Act, codified as Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code. The Board may also meet in open meeting to take action on legal or personnel matters considered in the closed meeting as required by Section 551.102 of the Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551 of the Government Code.

  • No further business to discuss; Meeting adjourned