PFLUGERVILLE, TEXAS, January 30, 2002 -- Representatives from the city of Pflugerville today announced that they have agreed to an historic pact with the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) that will guarantee Pflugerville a secure water supply for its customers for the next 20 years.
The city also selected a site in North East Pflugerville for a new surface water reservoir (170 acre lake) and water treatment plant near the intersection of Weiss Lane and Pfluger Lane northeast of Pflugerville, and is moving forward on a project to get the water from the Colorado River to the city of Pflugerville.
This project includes building a river intake and pump station on the Colorado River and up to a 17-mile pipeline to deliver the raw water to the new surface reservoir to store the river water, and build the new water treatment plant.
"There is probably no single factor more instrumental to the long-term health of a city - including quality of life, the economy, or public safety - than the supply of water," said Mayor Scott Winton. "With this agreement, and the site selection for the new surface reservoir and water treatment plant, the people of Pflugerville can be assured that there will be enough water for themselves, their children and grandchildren, even during the driest of times."
Key Terms of Agreement
Under the LCRA agreement, Pflugerville will pay approximately $630,000 each year to reserve 12,000 acre-feet annually or about 10.3 million gallons per day of water. A reservation of 12,000 acre-feet per year is projected to provide the Pflugerville with a dependable water supply through the year 2025.
Without the agreement, Pflugerville could face shortfalls of water or higher prices for water during severe droughts. "The citizens of Pflugerville are fortunate that their city leaders are planning for the long term future water needs of their community," said Randy Goss, Executive Director of the Water & Wastewater Utility Services of LCRA.
"The LCRA is committed to a continuing relationship with the city in order to provide safe, reliable and adequate amount of water to Pflugerville," Goss added.
HDR Engineering, the firm hired to do a feasibility study to bring water from the Colorado River to Pflugerville, evaluated nine different locations for the reservoir before the Pflugerville City Council selected the current location on December 18, 2001.
Estimated Project Costs
The total cost for the proposed water supply system is estimated to be near $40 million. The city plans to issue bonds to finance the project with debt payments to be paid through collection of impact fees as new development occurs and revenues from water rates. Design plans for the project will be prepared this year. The city must obtain permits and approvals from the federal government, state agencies and local jurisdictions for the project.
Construction of the first components of the project is scheduled to begin in mid 2003 with a completion date of late 2005.
Early last year, Pflugerville hired HDR Engineering to do a feasibility study to bring water from the Colorado River to Pflugerville, treat the raw surface water to drinking water standards, and connect the new supply to the city's water distribution system.
HDR Engineering proposed a project that would take water from the river at a point just east of where US183 crosses the river, pump the raw water to Pflugerville in a pipeline, store the raw water in a small surface reservoir near Pflugerville, construct a modern water treatment plant, and pipe the treated water to the city's water distribution system.
This project was found to be the most viable alternative for the city, according to Kelly Kaatz, Vice President of HDR Engineering, "The local reservoir will reduce the size and cost of the river intake, pump station, and pipeline and allows the city to reduce operating costs by pumping only during off-peak hours to take advantage of lower electric power costs," said Kaatz. " It also provides flexibility to the city for operating the system by allowing the city to suspend pumping water from the river during times when the water quality in the river is poor and improving the quality of the surface water by providing settling time for the raw water," said Kaatz.
Pflugerville's water supply serves a population of approximately 18,000 over a 30-square mile utility service area. The water supply currently relies on groundwater from the Edwards Aquifer and the water level in the aquifer is declining due to increased demands by Pflugerville and other rapidly growing cities in the area.
The city of Pflugerville's water use averaged 1.4 million gallons per day (mgd) in 1995. Five-years later the city's average day water use has almost doubled to 2.7 mgd. Average day water use for the city is projected to increase to almost 9.0 mgd by the year 2020, more than triple current demands.
Pflugerville has contracted with the city of Austin for a supplemental water supply. Limitations on water use in the city of Austin water supply contract have required the city to evaluate other options to meet long-term water supply needs.
For more information go to the city of Pflugerville website at http://www.cityofpflugerville.com/Pfyi/Colorado.
