The Texas Water Development Board met on November 17, 2022 and approved $52,913,408 of financial assistance for these projects. The full agenda and an archive of this hearing can be found here.

This report is intended to give you an overview and highlight of the discussions on the various topics taken up. It is not a verbatim transcript of the discussions but 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.

George B. Peyton V, TWDB Member

  • Attended TWCA Fall Conference
  • Joined comptroller on the Good for Texas Tour to visit the Edward’s Aquifer Authority Education Outreach Center; would like to consider emulating here
  • Attended House Natural Resources interim hearing on desalination and the Senate Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs interim hearing on drought, flood infrastructure and ground water management; several TWDB staff attended
  • Attended the Region K Regional Water Planning Group meeting
  • Participated in JP Morgan Land Conference, met with large landowners and groundwater rights owners to hear their thoughts and concerns; concerns dominantly centered around water

 

Brooke T. Paup; TWDB Member

  • Touring construction of lake _ and attending the dedication of Bodark Lake
  • Attended House Natural Resources Committee interim hearing on desalination
  • Visit with law school students at Texas Tech University
  • Attended Aspen Institute State Resilience Leaders Retreat
  • Met with Texas Association of Builders and will deliver remarks at their luncheon
  • Visit with the Mitchell Foundation
  • Texas Women in Public Finance lunch appearance
  • Met with American Flood Coalition about upcoming legislative session
  • Delivered keynotes at Water Finance Exchange Workshop
  • Met with Senator Charles Perry

 

Item 2 – Consider authorizing the Executive Administrator to execute multiple contracts in a total amount not to exceed $1 mil through the Texas Strategic Mapping Program

Richard Wade, EA’s Staff

  • Tenaris and Water Science & Conservation have partnered to acquire bathymetric data in Nueces Bay
  • Will be used to improve accuracy of 3D hydro models
  • Models also used for storm surges, flood planning, tidal prediction, oil spill response, and coastal resiliency.
  • Two sources of funds – Flood management account withing the Texas Infrustructure Resilience Fund not to exceed $500k, and the Texas Strategic Mapping Program funds not to exceed $500k.
  • Chair Peyton – Important to address issue of compound flooding, correct?
    • Yes this is correct. We have a way to line up the models but the supporting data isn’t as accurate as it can be, but this would make the data more accurate
  • And this area that we’re covering, have we done this in the past?
    • It’s been done once in the past with Laguna Madre. Have learned a lot since this project
  • Chair Paup – Better science and data leads to better policy feels this is crucial work and is happy to support it
  • Motion to authorize executive administrator to execute multiple contracts not to exceed $1 mil passes

 

Item 3 – Consider approving the adopted major amendment to the 2021 Region M Regional Water Plan and authorizing the Executive Administrator to hold the associated public hearing

Kevin Smith, EA’s Staff

  • Plan included 3 reservoirs in east hidalgo county
  • Reservation construction pump station, transmission pipelines, treatment facilities, surface water intake
  • Amend adds capital cost of approx. $168 mil to the plan
  • Projects will produce approx. 37,840 acre feet per year by 2070
  • Constitutes as a major amendment because it relates to a new reservoir
  • Region M planning group held public hearing on Aug 23, and after 30 day comment period the amendment was adopted
  • If board approves amendment, authorization is requested to hold a public hearing for a proposed amendment to the 2022 state water plan
  • Peyton – Good job of staff making sure we have the information required to approve this project
  • Paup – Thanks Smith for going the extra mile on project
  • Motion to approve major amendment and authorizing the associated public hearing passes

 

Item 4 –  Consider appointing a member and a designated alternate to the Interregional Planning Council to fill vacant positions

Sarah Lee, EA’s Staff

  • Region C designated alternate has resigned, and Region I council member has stepped down from position
  • Regions have made nominations for who should fill these vacancies
  • Region I nominated Kelly Holcomb, general manager of ANRA and former vice chair of previous interregional planning council, to serve as the regions representative
  • Region C nominated Dan Bowman, general manager of Tarrant County regional water district, to serve as designated alternate
  • Appointment of nominees to council will allow regions to have representation at council meetings that occur prior to adoption of 2027 state water plan
  • Motion to approve the appointing of council members to fill vacant positions passes

 

Item 5 – Consider authorizing – (a) allocating funds for Fiscal Year 2023 Agricultural Water Conservation Grants in an amount not to exceed $1,200,000 from the Agricultural Water Conservation Fund; and (b) authorizing the Executive Administrator to publish a request for applications in the Texas Register

Antonio Delgado, EA’s Staff

  • Grant applications under this announcement are due Wednesday February 8, 2023 at 2 pm; anticipated award day in May 2023
  • Peyton – Amount of water saved for cost is phenomenal. Happy to push for as much money here as they can get
  • Paup – Expresses favor for this agenda item
  • Motion to authorize funds for conservation grants and authorization to publish request for applications passes

 

Item 6 – Consider authorizing the publication of proposed amendments to 31 Texas Administrative Code Chapter 358 relating to water loss audits

John Sutton, EA’s Staff

  • Current water loss thresholds approved in 2014 based on statewide data from the 2010 water loss audits and industry standard metrics
  • Current thresholds use population, proposed revisions use density of service connection to categorize water loss
  • After examination of several scenarios, staff have concluded that separating utilities by high and low density was most equitable approach
  • Proposed thresholds were developed using the current quality control water loss data
  • Thresholds would only apply to a utility that requests financial assistance for a water supply project
  • Staff recommends the new thresholds be applied to applications for financial assistance received after July 1, 2023
  • Request to add requirement for water loss validation
  • Process currently used by several states across country
  • All utilities receiving financial assistance from board would have to have their annual water loss audit validated by the board starting January 1 2025
  • Peyton – Seems like sensible changes. It will add 5 new utilities?
    • It would include the addition of 5 new utilities, yes.
  • Paup – Great work, thanks Sutton for work
  • Motion to authorize publication of proposed amendments relating to water loss audits passes

 

Item 7 – Briefing and discussion on the status of the proposed revisions to Texas Water Development Board’s guidance document related to use of Construction Manager-at-Risk and Design-Build project delivery methods

Jessica Taylor, EA’s Staff

  • No action item
  • Design, bid, build has been traditional delivery method, but alternative methods have become more popular in recent years
  • Proposed revision intend to align TWDB review process with general project flow of delivery projects
  • Revisions will expedite review time and provide an improved process for delivery projects
  • EA will make draft guidance doc available on website for public comment
  • No comments from chairs

Keith Kendall

  • Recognizes staff who took lead on the guidance revisions
  • Thanks board members for their efforts
  • Paup – Commends work done by everyone involved

Perry Fowler

  • Extends thanks to the board and their staff
  • Looks forward to support moving forward
  • No comments from chairs

 

Item 8 – Consider authorizing publication of proposed additions and amendments to 31 Texas Administrative Code Chapters 363, 371, and 375 relating to the use of alternative project delivery methods for construction projects financed by the Texas Water Development Board

Joe Reynolds, Office of General Counsel

  • Amendments proposed in conjunction with revisions to guidance document discussed in item 7
  • Proposed rules will be published in Texas Register
  • No comments from chairs
  • Motion to authorize publication of proposed amendments relating to alternative project delivery methods passes

 

Item 9 – Consider authorizing the Executive Administrator to execute the Memorandum of Understanding between the Texas Water Development Board and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

Kendall Koal, EA’s Staff

  • Provides board members with MOU that lays out the board’s responsibilities in TCQ ion providing the expedited review of project permits in relation to HB 1052
  • Motion to authorize the EA to execute the Memorandum of Understanding passes

 

Item 10 – Approve by resolution a request from the City of Melvin (McCulloch County) for $300,000 in principal forgiveness from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund for planning, design, and construction of a water system improvements project

Jessie Milanovich, EA’s Staff

  • City of Melvin provides water to approx. 340 costumers
  • One of the city’s storage tanks requires rehabilitation, both tanks lack insulation
  • Majority of distribution lines are over 40 years old and have structural issues (e.g. leaking)
  • City proposes rehabilitation for existing water tanks, install new shut off valves, and replace at least 2k feet of existing water line
  • No comments from chairs
  • Motion to approve request from City of Melvin passes

 

Item 11 – Approve by resolution a request from the City of Miles (Runnels County) for $269,608 in principal forgiveness from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund for planning of a water supply project

Jessie Milanovich, EA’s Staff

  • City of Miles provides water service to approx. 992 customers
  • Ground water wells produce water with elevated nitrate
  • Recent drought conditions limit surface water available for use
  • Water supply project would involve identifying other water sources, evaluating city’s current water infrastructure and emergency preparedness plan, and identifying solutions for ground water treatment
  • Peyton – A small rural community wouldn’t get funding from anywhere else. Happy the city is coming through the TWDB
  • Motion to approve request from City of Miles passes

 

Item 12 – Approve by resolution a request from the City of Mertzon (Irion County) for $4,613,800in financial assistance consisting of $1,405,000 in financing and $3,208,800 in principal forgiveness from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund for planning, design, and construction of a wastewater treatment plant improvements project.

Jessie Milanovich, EA’s Staff

  • City of Mertzon provides wastewater service to approx. 823 customers
  • Water treatment plant was constructed in 1975 and struggles to reach quality requirements
  • City proposes improvements to water treatment plant
  • Peyton – Great program for the city
  • Paup – Plant is old and could use sprucing up

 

Keith Kendall, City of Mertzon

  • Thanks the board for addressing the issue on behalf of the city
  • City administrator broke into tears upon hearing that the improvements would be funded; first time Kendall has had someone cry over that kind of information
  • Good reminder for everyone that these actions mean a lot to the communities
  • Motion to adopt proposed resolution from City of Mertzon passes

 

Item 13 – Approve by resolution a request from the City of Marlin (Falls County) for $2,880,000 in financial assistance, consisting of $970,000 in financing and $1,910,000 in principal forgiveness from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund for design and construction of a drainage system improvements project.

Tom Barnett, EA’s Staff

  • City provides water and wastewater services to approx. 5700 residents
  • Experienced several major flood events in recent years; three disaster declarations since 2015
  • Stormwater drainage improvements needed to reduce risk of flooding
  • First phase of project received funding from TWDB in 2019
  • Second phase would provide additional construction and design funds for upgrades in storm water collection infrastructure
  • Peyton – This would be a project that qualified for the FIF, but this predated that, is that right?
    • Project began formulating in 2018/19, so it predated the FIF
  • Motion to adopt proposed resolution from city of Marlin for financial assistance passes

 

Item 14 – Approve by resolution a request from the city of Rising Star (Eastland County) for$300,000 in principal forgiveness from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund for planning, design, and construction of a water system improvements project

Tom Barnett, EA’s Staff

  • City of Rising Star provides water and wastewater service to approx. 900 residents
  • City reporting water loss due to aging water distribution lines that are made of asbestos cement pipe
  • City plans to replace high priority lines with funds from project
  • Peyton – 34% water loss is a lot of loss for a system. Asbestos typically means something really bad, but that’s not necessarily the case here?
    • It was a common pipe material used in the 40’s-60’s. No longer recommended as a material to be used
  • Would be curious to know how much water they save after implementing these changes
    • Pretty small dollar amount, they plan to target the highest priority lines
    • The city could have a lot more work to do to help mitigate the rest of the system
  • They’ll have more work, but hopefully there will be some improvement after this initial funding
  • Paup – Fantastic project for Rising Star. Excited to be able to help
  • Motion to adopt proposed resolution from city of Rising Star passes

 

Item 15 – Approve by resolution a request from the City of Grand Saline (Van Zandt County) for$550,000 in grant from the Flood Infrastructure Fund for construction of a flood management project

Joe Cohen, EA’s Staff

  • City requesting funds to replace damaged culverts in two locations and install bank stabilization along a few hundred feet of road
  • Peyton – Moving to something that could withstand a 20 year storm event?
    • Yes
  • Motion to approve resolution for construction of a flood management project passes

 

Item 16 – Approve by resolution a request from the City of Edinburg (Hidalgo County) $44,000,000in financial assistance consisting of $43,925,000 in financing and $75,000 in principal forgiveness from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund for planning, acquisition, design, and construction of a wastewater system improvements project

EA’s Staff

  • One of city’s treatment trains does not meet the parameters at full capacity, so the plant can only meet the parameters at the reduced capacity of 9.3 mil gallons per day
  • Anticipate the flow to the plant will reach 9.3 mil gallons per day in 2023
  • Proposed plan will correct deficiencies at the plant and increase the capacity of the plant to 13.5 mil gallons per day
  • Part of city’s collection system is at capacity and is experiencing sewer overflows during wet weather; plan includes treatment plan to remedy this
  • Peyton – Happy they are including an emergency preparedness plan, commends staff for their work

 

Tom Reyna, Asst. City Manager

  • Thanks the board for considering this resolution on behalf of the city
  • Motion to adopt proposed resolution for wastewater systems improvement project passes

 

Item 17 – Public Comment

Cedrick Davis, City Manager for city of Marlin

  • Speaking on item 13
  • Thanks the board for continued partnership over the years and for passing their amendment