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Questions & Issues Raised at October & November Public Hearings Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority Board Meeting December 10, 2007
Questions & Issues Raised at
October & November Public Hearings
Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority
Board Meeting
December 10, 2007
OVERVIEW – Public Hearing Questions & Issues
I. Overview of Public Hearings
II. Questions & Issues Raised Related To:
A. PHASE 1 Raw Water Delivery System (Trails End)
B. PHASE 2A Raw Water Delivery System (Volente)
C. Impacts to Lake Travis
D. Water Conservation
PHASE 1 RAW WATER DELIVERY SYSTEM
Phase 1 - Overview:
Floating intake – 30 mgd
29,000 l.f. of 78-inch Raw Water Pipeline
Design is approximately 45% complete
Begin construction in summer 2008 and finish spring 2010.
PHASE 1 RAW WATER DELIVERY SYSTEM
1. Why did you choose Trails End for the route?
Four alternative routes evaluated in detail
Over 15 evaluation criteria considered for each route
Alternative B (Trails End) was selected because of a fatal flaw environmental impact on Alternative A route
Sandy Creek route was not evaluated because: Increased cost Environmental Permitting Permanent easement requirements
Not Considered
Not Consi
dered
PHASE 1 RAW WATER DELIVERY SYSTEM
2. What is in this project for the Trails End residents?
New road with widened shoulders
Potential drainage improvements
Tunneling under Trails End HOA Park
Mitigation of impacts to best extent possible
PHASE 1 RAW WATER DELIVERY SYSTEM
3. What are the potential impacts along Trails End Road and how will they be mitigated?
Potential
Impact Mitigation
Construction Noise Limited work hours
Mufflers
Traffic Maintain two-way traffic for most of length
Driveways/ fences/ mailboxes
Keep in service and restore back to original condition following construction.
Groundwater Trench dams
Dust Water spray system on trencher and periodic watering
Trees Tree replacement inside ROW. Compensation for trees removed in Temp Const Easement
PHASE 1 RAW WATER DELIVERY SYSTEM
Two-Lane Traffic
One-Lane Traffic
PHASE 1 RAW WATER DELIVERY SYSTEM
3. What are the potential impacts along Trails End Road and how will they be mitigated?
Potential
Impact Mitigation
Construction Noise Limited work hours
Mufflers
Traffic Maintain two-way traffic for most of length
Driveways/ fences/ mailboxes
Keep in service and restore back to original condition following construction.
Groundwater Trench dams
Dust Water spray system on trencher and periodic watering
Trees Tree replacement inside ROW. Compensation for trees removed in Temp Const Easement
PHASE 1 RAW WATER DELIVERY SYSTEM
4. What are the critical design issues associated with this line?
Pipe Sizing – per generally accepted design standards - max 300 psi.
Coordination with LCRA on existing pipeline along Trails End Rd.
Sandy Creek Park Crossing License Agreement with Travis County Public Hearing required by Travis County Easements from LCRA
Easements 40 temporary easements 9 permanent easements
PHASE 2A RAW WATER DELIVERY SYSTEM
Phase 2A - Overview:
Deep Water Intake – 142 mgd
15,000 to 20,000 l.f. of 84-inch Raw Water Pipeline
Currently performing study to pick best intake site - to be complete in Spring 2008
Complete construction between 2012 and 2016
PHASE 2A RAW WATER DELIVERY SYSTEM
5. Why do you need a deep intake in the Volente area?
To provide water during a severe drought
Volente area provides access to deep water in reasonable proximity to the existing plants and the proposed BCRUA regional plant
Alternative locations are either too remote or do not provide deep-water access
PHASE 2A RAW WATER DELIVERY SYSTEM
PHASE 2A RAW WATER DELIVERY SYSTEM
6. What sites are you considering for a deep intake and how will the final decision be made?
Seven sites in Volente area and four types intakes are being investigated (28 total combinations)
Study scheduled for completion in April, 2008
Site recommendation to BCRUA will be based on cost, social impacts, and environmental impacts
Study will be conducted with public input
PHASE 2A RAW WATER DELIVERY SYSTEM
7. Why are most of the sites in a residential neighborhood?
Areas around Lake Travis are predominately residential properties, particularly in the Volente study area
Only two commercial sites exist in the Volente area, and both are included in the study
PHASE 2A RAW WATER DELIVERY SYSTEM
8. Why can’t you partner with City of Austin in their intake?
Cost uncertainty
Schedule uncertainty
Environmental conflicts
IMPACTS TO LAKE TRAVIS
9. Why Lake Travis for a water source? Cedar Park and Leander currently use Lake Travis
Round Rock evaluated alternative supplies and selected Lake Travis as most economical
Other alternatives (BRA water, groundwater from east) are more expensive
IMPACTS TO LAKE TRAVIS
Source-Partner Plant Size (mgd)
Net Capital Cost
Total Cost
Lake Travis-City of Cedar Park 40.8 $94,211,000 $361,220,000
Lake Belton-BRALake Travis-Cedar Park
22.818
$109,923,000 $371,439,000
Lake Travis-City of Cedar Park 18+22.8 $98,800,000 $390,619,000
Groundwater-Water Texas 18+22.8 $58,024,000 $439,374,000
Groundwater-BVWA 18+22.8 $58,024,000 $477,746,000
Groundwater-Water Texas 40.8 $58,024,000 $481,812,000
Lake Travis-City of Austin 18+22.8 $120,826,000 $520,388,000
Lake Travis-City of Austin 40.8 $140,128,000 $526,081,000
Groundwater-SWWC 40.8 - $566,096,000
2005 Round Rock Water Supply Study
IMPACTS TO LAKE TRAVIS
10. Will this project empty the lake? How much will this project really drop the lake?
At build-out, BCRUA may use up to 58,000 acre-feet per year - 13% of the annual firm yield of the Highland Lakes
This is 5% of the full volume of Lake Travis
BCRUA is one of many customers of LCRA
LCRA manages the Highland Lakes pursuant to TCEQ oversight (water rights permit and water management plan)
IMPACTS TO LAKE TRAVIS
11. How will this project impact other utilities who get water from the lake?
LCRA contracts do not guarantee water availability at any specific location or time
The LCRA water management plan predicts Lake Travis may drop to elevation 576 during a severe drought
Each utility must make contingency plans - including the existing Cedar Park and Leander/LCRA water plants
WATER CONSERVATION
12. What are the three Cities doing for water conservation?
Cedar Park Adopted inverted block rates (also known as conservation
rates) earlier this year. Effluent Re-use at Avery Ranch Golf Course Voluntary water conservation measures year around Mandatory water conservations measures during drought Sell water conservation devices (low flow aerators, low flow
toilet flaps, etc.) at low prices at City Hall.
WATER CONSERVATION
12. What are the three Cities doing for water conservation (cont.)?
Round Rock Effluent Re-use at Forest Creek Golf Course Currently in planning stages for effluent re-use to Old
Settlers Park, Stony Point High School and other locations Voluntary water conservation measures during the summer Mandatory water conservation measures during drought
WATER CONSERVATION
12. What are the three Cities doing for water conservation (cont.)?
Leander Ordinances regulating water use associated with commercial
car washes, dishwashers, and clothes washers, and individual water metering for multi-family and mixed-use properties.
Ordinance that all new landscapes (non-residential and residential) are required to have a minimum of 6” of soil depth in areas planted with turf grass.
Homebuilders are required to offer a “Water Wise” landscape option to buyers.
Voluntary water conservation measures during the summer Mandatory water conservation measures during drought
Questions?
