What you need to know
Construction on the 2 million-gallon elevated storage tank began in January 2024 and is part of the utility’s master plan. The project’s design began in 2020 and NBU purchased the property for the tank in 2021, Project Manager Paula Dubois told Community Impact.
The Conrads Elevated Storage Tank brings additional water capacity to the utility’s system which helps with fire protection and stabilizing water pressure for new and existing residents, Dubois said.
“Elevated storage tanks are really useful in helping maintain system pressures because the Hill Country can significantly decrease pressure in the higher terrain areas and so elevated storage tanks help stabilize that,” Dubois said.
Growth was also factored into the construction of the tank. With more homes being built, more water is needed for new and existing NBU customers, Dubois said.
The cost
The project—which costs $9.9 million—is funded through impact fees, a cost-sharing agreement with the Mayfair development and rates.
What else?
Dubois also said that New Braunfels’ topography is unique because it is flat on one side and Hill Country on the other.
“When you look out over New Braunfels you’ll see a bunch of elevated storage tanks and they’re all different heights depending on their topography but you can kind of see they all pretty much line up at the same elevation to help with pressures,” she said.
