Glenn Dishong, the utility director for the city of Georgetown, said most people don’t find water a sexy topic, and they only really notice his work when a new water tower goes up.

But he said residents should understand the need for smart water planning, conservation and infrastructure growth to handle increased demands even during non-drought seasons.

There were 494 single- and two-family home permits issued in 2016, according to city data. And with growth comes more concern for acquiring water resources and adding infrastructure so the city can reach its growth potential, as each of those new residences requires water and sewage connections.

“There’s not much surface water available, and we’re already using all the groundwater we can,” Dishong said. “We’ve got to ensure we’re using our water sources and infrastructure at their best efficiency.”

INFRASTRUCTURE HANDLES DEMAND

Georgetown is not concerned with running out of water now or in the future, Dishong said. Even under drought conditions, Georgetown would have enough water to serve current customers.

Water planning ties directly into the city’s master plan and anticipated growth. At the current rate of consumption, Georgetown’s water resources would be capped in 2045 if growth continues at anticipated rates, Dishong said. Residents would still have access to water, but no new connections could be added. That stands against Georgetown’s expected build-out date of 2065.

But it is not as easy as bringing in more water from other sources to meet the demand.

A possible water source to meet future demand is the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer, which spans from northeast Texas to the Rio Grande Valley.

“We haven’t made any contracts to do that yet because there’s some complexities to making it a long-term supply,” he said.

Retrieving that water from the east would require the investment of adding a pipeline that could last at least 50 years, Dishong said. But contracts with that water source only last as long as five.

“The low-hanging fruit has already been picked,” he said. “But if I need that water, I can go get it.”

The city has planned or started construction on many capital infrastructure projects. These pumps, tanks, pipelines and treatment centers are built in phases as demand for potable and irrigation water grows.

“We add to our water infrastructure in edible bites. It buys us a few years and keeps the water rates from being ridiculous,” he said. “We redo the master plan every five years to make sure everything is still correct. Our water infrastructure is funded through impact fees and rates.”

The city plans to expand existing or build new treatment plants and water storage tanks, Dishong said.

“Our plan is always to reuse as much of the water for irrigation and not discharge it back into the river,” Dishong said. “But we’re not at the point of turning reclaimed water into potable water. We haven’t hit that gross factor yet.”

PIPELINES TO THE FUTURE

Some residents are concerned about the second phase of a proposed wastewater pipeline that may cut through Berry Springs Park.

The pipeline’s first phase would carry water from the Sun City Lift Station to the Berry Creek Lift Station, which currently pumps it to the Berry Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant. The second phase, which is a cause of contention, would instead carry the wastewater to the Pecan Branch Wastewater Treatment Facility.

The Berry Creek treatment plant is not able to handle the capacity of increased growth in the nearby community. Dishong said that if the second phase of the pipeline is not completed, some residents would not get sewage service. Feasible alternative solutions to provide sewage services to that development would still include moving the pipeline to another part of Berry Springs Park.

“You could also limit the growth there or pump around the park, which would cost more in maintenance and electricity forever,” he said. “You’re not letting gravity carry it downhill.”

Dishong said concerned residents do not realize major wastewater lines already run along creeks and through city parks such as San Gabriel Park.

“The easiest thing with the least problems leading to maintenance is a gravity pipe,” he said. “Pumps are a source of constant maintenance. If [water is] carried by gravity, you don’t need pumps. And it’s less risky to the environment.”

Mary Ann Melton, a Hutto resident whose grandson lives near the park, spoke at a Feb. 28 Georgetown City Council meeting. She said she was concerned the pipeline would ruin the park.

“We want to have this park in all its future glory for him in his future. This proposed zoning looks beautiful with its plans for open space,” she said. “Berry Springs is a park, but it’s also a preserve. There are the beautiful large springs.”

Melton said the dense development would impact runoff.

“We’re also entering the Blackland Prairie with the clay,” she said. “If we’re putting in a 4-foot wastewater pipeline and the soil expands and shrinks, it’s going to crack the pipe.”

Georgetown resident Martin Byhower, a biologist and educator, said he was also concerned with the environmental impact.

“Berry Springs is one of the most treasured parks in town,” Byhower told council members. “The springs make it ecologically significant if not unique.”

Byhower asked City Council members to evaluate any proposal regarding development in the area carefully and to consider alternate routes for the wastewater lines.

“Yes, sewage lines traditionally run along paths of least resistance to avoid the costs and potential hazards of pump stations,” he said. “But we need to weigh those costs against the potential hazards of running the sewage line through a sensitive watershed.”

CONSERVATION REQUIRED FOR GROWTH

Georgetown households use an average of 12,000 gallons a month, according to city utility officials. But Dishong said it’s a deceiving number as usage drastically differs between winter and summer months.

“In the summer, it’s about 20,000 gallons a month,” Dishong said. “The demand picks up around April. We might see it early this year because it’s been warm.”

Prior to the Water Wise campaign in 2016, the average per-capita use was 200 gallons per day. Since then, consumption has diminished to about 180 gallons per day, city officials said. Their goal is 160 gallons of daily consumption, the level needed to have adequate water through build-out, they said.

The city has several new initiatives to make sure residents conserve water.

“We’re seeing a significant reduction in use this year, but that’s not enough data to show a trend if we’ve been effective,” Dishong said. “But we really need people to conserve water. If we keep using water like were using now, we’d be short water in about 30 years.”

One initiative that has made an impact is the year-round tiered rate system, he said. As users decrease their water usage, they pay a lower rate as an incentive.

The city also provides an Aqua Messenger service that notifies residents when they have reached high water usage. Residents must opt-in to the service.

Dishong said that not every resident or business needs help with conservation, but the city needs to identify those who do by studying the data of high water users.

“The challenge is water is a constrained resource,” he said. “Only adding infrastructure doesn’t cut it. If we don’t conserve water, in order to reach build-out, we’d have to bring in water from other sources. That isn’t economically viable.”