CURRENT ACTIONS
AUSTIN WATER--Conservation is Cheaper than Construction
The Austin City Council is currently considering the enormous deep water intake, the pump station and the water treatment plant (WTP4) into Lake Travis. Conservation could delay the need for the plant for years. Austin needs to lead in conservation, not follow the herd into Lake Travis!
The main argument for the plant appears to be job creation for construction workers. Jobs could be created by fixing leaky pipes and expanding water reclamation projects. $508 million could go a long way toward creating jobs!
Austin has made significant first steps toward conservation and reuse. Even in one of the hottest, driest summers on record in 2008, Austin's peak usage was much less than the goal set by the City Council. The focus on conservation has just begun. This entire proposed project can be safely postponed saving Austin rate payers millions and protecting Lake Travis recreational values during this economic downturn and drought.
Let the Austin City Council know how you feel.
Show the Council how much better we can do with conservation in 2009! If you are an Austin Water Utility Customer, you can get 3 free low-flush commodes per house, plus $60 toward installation of each, or a $200 rebate per commode. Call (512) 974-2199
SAVE MONEY. SAVE WATER. SAVE LAKE TRAVIS!
BCRUA PROJECT--Williamson County Water
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) funded $182 million for "Phase 1A" of the BCRUA Project in Lake Travis on July 8, totally ignoring Leander's amended water rights pending at TCEQ. Water Rights needed for Phase IA were figured by using Round Rock's Lake Georgetown and Stillhouse Hollow water--a long way from Lake Travis! TWDB refuses to redo the water certification. Cedar Park, Leander and Round Rock took $18 million for planning, leaving the rest with TWDB for now.
By dividing the project into phases and parts of phases, BCRUA requested $182 Million for "Phase IA" only. (Only the filters are sized for 17 million gallons per day (mgd) in "Phase 1A". 75% of Phase IA is sized for the entire 3 phases, 105 mgd.) Phase IB increases the water capacity by adjusting filters with no charge, etc.!
The TWDB Board refused to honor DELTA's request to postpone their vote until recent information on water availability, water rights, etc. could be obtained. They voted to issue the bonds--$182 million on only the size of the filters with incorrect water rights and ignoring future needs of our basin!
at the same time...
LCRA Sees Less Water Availability
LCRA recently requested mediation of its dispute with SAWS (San Antonio Water Systems) stating, "It would be 'unscientific and imprudent at best,' to use out-dated data that do not reflect accelerated population growth and water needs."
LCRA halted the LCRA/SAWS project due to recent studies indicating a possible 25% increase in future water needs of the Colorado River Basin. SAWS is currently suing LCRA for breaching its agreement.
How can LCRA understand the need for current information while another State Agency, TWDB, completely ignored DELTA's cry for postponement of their bond vote in order to update their information?
We, the people of the State of Texas, are to blame for allowing this...
