He oversees the organization’s operations, finances, design and construction activities as well as ongoing maintenance and expansion of BCRUA’s regional water treatment system.
Roberts spoke with Community Impact about his plans for the BCRUA and its member cities.
What led you to pursue the role of general manager at the BCRUA after retiring from the city of Cedar Park?
It certainly wasn't planned. Out of the blue, I heard that Karen Bondy—the former general manager—had announced her retirement. It wasn't long after that there was interest expressed in me taking that role. I hadn't planned on going back to work that much, but because this project has been such a passion of mine personally and professionally, I was honored to be considered for the job.
What have you accomplished in the last six months?
I'd been in retirement for almost a year. There was a lot of getting back up to speed. I feel like I've really done that. [I] assisted in managing the completion of the underwater pipeline replacement project. We successfully took the treatment plant offline for the final phase of the underwater pipeline replacement project, which of course took 30 days, and then we refilled the entire raw water system. Lastly, we have started the final engineering of the Phase 2A treatment plant expansion project, which will increase the plant capacity from 42 to 64 million gallons per day.
What does the future of water security look like in Central Texas and for the BCRUA member cities of Cedar Park, Leander and Round Rock?
There are several city and LCRA drought contingency and water conservation plans in play to address the current severe drought challenge. Cedar Park and Leander are recommissioning a drought contingency pump station ... that will deliver water from deeper lake depths until the lake levels recover. Secondly, the cities will utilize their own very comprehensive water conservation plans and drought contingency plans to reduce water consumption during this ordeal. It's a regional drought issue. I think the good news is that the cities and LCRA have very sophisticated comprehensive plans in place to help us get through this drought.
What are some of the major projects under way?
The largest project we have under construction right now is the Phase 2 deep water intake and pump station. And back to the drought situation—that project is what has all along been planned and designed to provide a more sustainable water supply during droughts like we are experiencing now. The second one is the construction of Phase 1D treatment plant, which will expand the current capacity from [32.5] MGD to [41.9] MGD. Thirdly, we just began engineering design of the Phase 2A treatment plant expansion.
What do you hope to accomplish with the BCRUA in the next year?
The deep water [intake] project won't be finished for a little under three years. And the original projects are not short-term projects; they're long term projects. My goal is to integrate myself into the role as the general manager in such a way that I can be successful in continuing the charge of this regional system. I'm going to continue that goal every day.
About each project
- Phase 1D expansion: This project adds a fourth water treatment structure, expanding treatment capacity from 32.5 million gallons per day to 41.9 mgd. Construction began in August 2023 and will finish in March 2025.
- Phase 2 deep water intake and pump station: This project constructs a permanent raw water intake line in Lake Travis, providing a reliable water supply to the cities of Cedar Park, Leander, and Round Rock even during periods of prolonged drought. Construction of the project started in June 2022 and will be completed in spring 2027.
- Phase 2A water treatment plant expansion: This project expands BCRUA's water treatment capacity from 41.9 mgd to 64.2 mgd. Design on the project began this spring and will conclude in spring 2025. After design wraps up, construction on the project will last until spring 2027.
