What’s happening?
The storage tank and pump station project is one of three interrelated projects to distribute additional water from the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority Western Canyon Project.
The facility will be a 1 million gallon ground storage tank and a pump station facility with three high-service pumps, with space for a future fourth pump.
Alongside the facility construction, a GBRA-delivered pipeline is planned to bring water to the site, and a planned city pipeline will deliver water from the new facility to the easternmost point of Boerne’s potable water system, according to agenda documents.
At the completion of design, city engineers projected a project cost of around $7.7 million, but the lowest bid came in around $8.91 million.
Utilities Director Michael Mann said some features of the new facility could be reduced to lower the cost, but those cuts would save around $200,000.
City Council authorized $9 million for the project, which is to be awarded to Pesado Construction.
“There were a lot of site improvement costs that our engineers just didn’t account for,” Mann said.
City staff said the largest discrepancy was in the electrical components of the facility, and costs have increased due to nationwide demand for tanks and pumps.
The project is funded through water impact fees and will not require the acquisition of debt.
What else?
The city of Fair Oaks Ranch plans to use a neighborhood piece of property for the construction of an elevated storage tank, providing adequate water pressure to the city.
Part of this plan includes a GBRA pipeline extension to the new site, which will benefit both Boerne and Fair Oaks Ranch.
Completion of the Boerne tank and pump station project is expected in March 2027.
