When picturing New Braunfels, images of lazy tubing adventures on the Comal River or the thrill of a day spent at Schlitterbahn come to mind. The city is synonymous with water, making its preservation a top priority for New Braunfels Utilities (NBU).

The national One Water movement was initially created by the U.S. Water Alliance and has served as the blueprint for other cities. Called One Water New Braunfels, it’s a collaborative effort between NBU, the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (GBRA) and the City of New Braunfels.



The main goal of this alliance is to ensure that water remains a vibrant part of the New Braunfels community for generations.

Community Impact sat down with Sarah Richards, NBU's director of customer solutions, and Jonathan Stinson, GBRA's deputy general manager, to give a glimpse into what One Water New Braunfels is all about.

What makes One Water New Braunfels unique?

Richards: Imagine the unexpected – agencies coming together, breaking boundaries to think holistically about water. It's not just about pipes and treatment plants; it's about intertwining our environment, society, and economy for a water-smart future.

Why was One Water New Braunfels created?

Richards: A few years ago, Texas initiated a statewide shift in how we think about water. New Braunfels Utilities foresaw the growth ahead and the strain on our local resources. Droughts were becoming a regular companion. We knew it was time for a change.

Stinson: Water management often takes place in silos, hindering comprehensive solutions. One Water New Braunfels moves us beyond these silos, recognizing that effective water management necessitates collaboration across agencies and sectors. It requires all of us working together to pioneer solutions that secure water resources for the communities we serve today, tomorrow and into the future.

What are the long-term goals of One Water New Braunfels?

Richards: The vision we set for One Water New Braunfels is to ensure water remains a celebrated and protected feature of our community by collaboratively managing our water resources to safeguard watersheds, waterways and groundwater. We identified five action areas that we must work in to achieve this monumental vision:

1. Plan for and manage water resources holistically and sustainably
2. Maximize environmental, social and economic benefits to the greater New Braunfels area
3. Ensure water remains a celebrated feature of our community
4. Provide sustainable and high-quality water
5. Ensure healthy watersheds, waterways and groundwater resources

How will the community be involved in One Water New Braunfels?

Richards: So, what's in it for our community? A vibrant city! Water that's not just clean but accessible and affordable for drinking water. But here's the thing: we will need our community's help and support through this journey. We will need their ideas and voices – the community coming together is essential to make this vision real.

For all the latest on One Water New Braunfels and to learn more, visit here.

The above story was produced by Community Impact's Storytelling Senior Multi-Platform Journalist Sierra Rozen, with information solely provided by the local business as part of their "sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team.