Leander open to water group inclusion

The proposal would have created a governmental entity known as a utility development corporation, or UDC. The city of Leander and a collection of other Central Texas entities used the UDC structure in 2011 and 2012 when the Lower Colorado River Authority was selling some of its assets. As part of the corporation, Leander purchased the Sandy Creek Water Treatment Plant from LCRA in January 2012.

Howell said the proposed corporation's early discussions could include how much water its members anticipate needing in the future. Longer term, the group might aim to connect water systems and invest in new ones, he said.

"I've had legislators say they want to speak to this group once it gets put together," he said. "Any time they can consolidate interest groups, it's a big help to them."

Leander Mayor Chris Fielder said the city's experience with purchasing the water treatment plant and forming the Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority —a governing authority composed of the cities of Cedar Park, Leander and Round Rock that aims to find ways to secure water for a growing population—could be helpful to the proposed corporation. City Council is still open to learning more about what inclusion in the group would entail, he said.

"We are one of the only cities around that has spearheaded a coalition before and has experience in dealing with LCRA," Fielder said. "When you can take a regional approach to water ... I see it as a positive."