The Commissioners Court has expressed support for the pipeline, which will service surface water from Lake Travis to the development, in an effort to avoid groundwater harvesting from the Trinity Aquifer. A decision is expected to be made on the pipeline at the WTCPUA’s board meeting Nov. 18, unless the WTCPUA follows the commissioners' suggestion to delay the decision.
The overview
The letter, originally put forward by Precinct 3 Commissioner Ann Howard, was amended by Precinct 2 Commissioner Brigid Shea in several ways, including adding a note that specifies that the WTCPUA should coordinate with Mirasol for the goal and opportunity to treat wastewater to potable standards.
Shea also added language that requested a 30-day delay to the WTCPUA’s decision on the pipeline in order to allow the public to read and understand the proposals being put forward.
The letter specifies that service to the area should be limited to the Mirasol Springs Development, the Peacock Development and the new Lake Travis ISD school campus. A summary of requests made to the WTCPUA includes:
- The size of the water line extension along Hamilton Pool Road should not exceed 3 inches, with a maximum flow of 108 gallons per minute.
- The drilling of any new water wells is prohibited, and once the WTCPUA begins providing service to the development, any nonexempt use of groundwater will also be prohibited.
- Mirasol will sever its groundwater estate and grant Travis County a groundwater conservation easement.
- WTCPUA water will be limited to indoor use, prohibiting all outdoor irrigation using groundwater or potable water. Harvested/stored rainwater and reused wastewater should be used instead.
- Rainwater harvesting and storage for outdoor irrigation is mandatory.
- County authorization is required for new pipelines that use county right of way.
- The use of the Pedernales River as a potable water supply to the area served by WTCPUA is prohibited. The development’s current Water Supply Contract with the Lower Colorado River Authority must be surrendered.
- Coordination with Mirasol for the goal and opportunity to treat effluent to potable standards is required.
Howard said that these concessions would be a major step for the development, and said that the 30-day extension should not be the main takeaway from the letter.
“The 30-day thing is minimal compared to the monumental, amazing concessions that Mirasol is making in exchange for this pipe water,” Howard said. “The trades they’re making and the safeguards they’re willing to set, like severing the rights to groundwater, and giving that to the county.”
The background
The new surface water pipeline was put forward at a WTCPUA board meeting held Oct. 17, after public pushback against Mirasol Springs’ plans to use groundwater. Residents and involved parties in attendance at that meeting brought attention to the size of the pipeline, and whether it encouraged future development in the area. Residents also argued that new water service plans did not address concerns regarding wastewater and maintaining water quality in surrounding areas.
Scott Roberts, president of the WTCPUA, said at that meeting’s conclusion that the board would like to gather more information regarding the size and usage of the proposed pipeline before making a decision on its approval at the board’s next meeting Nov. 18.
At a public information meeting held Nov. 6 with the WTCPUA and Howard, it was announced that the pipeline had been reduced in diameter from 4 inches to 3 inches. This size would allow 108 gallons of water to be serviced per minute.
Though Roberts and the board have stated that the new pipeline would be an effective means of preventing groundwater harvesting from the Trinity Aquifer, concerns regarding wastewater treatment and the possibility of future development in the area have persisted.
Local resident Lew Adams, whose property by Roy Creek Canyon lies directly adjacent to Mirasol Springs, has argued that a pipeline will guarantee future development in the area.
“This land will change tremendously if in fact we allow development in these areas,” Adams said. “We do know from history that wherever water pipes go, wherever water is made available, development follows.”
Adams and other groups, including Save Our Springs and Save the Pedernales, have also said that the development’s wastewater treatment plans run the risk of disturbing the ecosystem surrounding Mirasol.
Bill Bunch, director of Save Our Springs, spoke on the issue and also urged the commissioners to support a delay to the WTCPUA’s decision on the pipeline.
“The wastewater [should] be treated to potable standards and reused so that it’s not put on a disposal field in this karst area where it will drain definitely down into both springs and the river,” Bunch said.
What’s next?
The commissioners voted unanimously to approve sending the amended letter to the WTCPUA, with Commissioner Margaret Gómez remarking that she would appreciate the extra time to allow her to more thoroughly study the proposals put forward.
The WTCPUA will hold its next meeting Nov. 18, where a decision is expected to either be made or delayed regarding the new proposed surface water pipeline.
