BUDA — City of Buda residents were invited to take part in meetings held on the Old Black Colony Water Tank project — a proposal to construct a new elevated water storage tank on property associated with Whispering Hollow Park.

Photo courtesy of City of Buda
Artist renderings of the new water tank.

Two meetings were held — one virtual and one in-person — on Thursday, May 18 and Tuesday, May 23, respectively.

At the city’s virtual meeting, City Manager Micah Grau, Assistant City Manager Wendy Smith, Director of Public Works Blake Neffendorf and Parks Director Tony Host were present to introduce the project and answer residents’ questions regarding the water tank proposal.

“This project has been planned for a number of years. Some of the reasons why this tank is needed in this particular area is because we have a new water source coming online,” said Grau. “Also, you typically want to locate your elevated storage facilities at the high point of the pressure plane. It’s an ideal location because of the water line and the highest point of elevation in the pressure zone.”

It will serve existing and new customers.

“Many of our customers do have reliable water pressures, but there are other areas that do not have as reliable water pressure,” he added. “The city is exploring all possible sites including city land. Council has not made a decision on this yet, this is really just the exploratory phase.”

Neffendorf touched on the history of the project, including the Alliance Regional Water Authority (ARWA) partnership and the new pipeline.

According to the city, a study in 2017 reported a need for additional storage in Buda’s central pressure plane to stabilize pressures and ensure Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) mandated elevated supply for current residents in growth. In 2020, an engineering study located the proposed elevated water tank in the best area to serve current and future customers within the central pressure plane. In 2021, ARWA completed its pipeline between Kyle and Buda that parallels Old Black Colony Road. According to the city, this would give Buda a third source of water and provide the city with a stable long-term supply of water.

“This will help stabilize pressures within the central pressure plan. Currently, the city has an elevated storage tank by Johnson High School, it’s an elevated location. The whole point is to gather pressure and a reliable flow of water to serve the west side,” Neffendorf said. “We have pressure-reducing valves to provide a stable pressure of water to area residents. We also have to meet TCEQ minimum requirements. We have a shortage of about one million gallons in the central and west pressure planes. This also provides capacity growth for the city moving forward.”

Photo courtesy of City of Buda
Artist renderings of the new water tank.

He explained the pressure zones and other prospective sites, which were outlined throughout the city prior to the meeting to show residents where the water tower could be erected.

There are challenges with each site, Neffendorf said, including eminent domain issues, overhead power lines, utility line conflicts and more. The benefits of placing the tower at the park site include the following: furthest location from homes; shadow cast study shows no shadow impact to homes; and construction and cost savings can be applied to park as amenities.

The tank, in terms of structure, would be 1.25 million gallons and would measure 78.5 feet in diameter and 125 feet in height. The minimum site spacing is 150 feet by 150 feet to allow for a crane to navigate around the tank. The design calls for 180 feet by 180 feet. Chain link fencing is not allowed by city code. Therefore, opaque masonry or precast concrete would be used. The city does not plan to light the tank except for required beacon lighting on top. Uplighting is prohibited.

The funding source for the water tank construction has been allocated by the city in past budgets.

“So far, the city has a reserve of $7.65 million in FY 2019-20, an additional $750,000 the following year for design and $6.3 million for the actual tank construction,” the new Public Works director said, noting that the total savings for constructing the tank on the Whispering Hollow Park site is approximately $774,000-$1.1 million.

Common questions about the tank included the following:

• Safety: Elevated water tanks are designed by structural and civil engineers. They are also constructed with requirements for fall zones.

• Property values: A 2017 study conducted by professors at UT-Dallas and published in the Journal of Property Tax Assessment & Administration evaluated the impact of property values located near elevated water tanks in Denton County. The study concluded that elevated water tanks do not impact property values.

• Noise: The tank will not have booster pumps or a ground storage tank. It will not generate noise.

• Lighting: Only FAA beacon lighting on top of the tank and a dark sky compliant fixture at the door entrance will be included. No illumination of the tank is proposed.

• Maintenance: Public Works will visit the site daily. Tank painting is needed every 15-25 years.

• Shadow: The proposed location will not cast a shadow on any homes in Whispering Hollow or Summer Pointe.

The city of Buda plans to create a final design of the tank and begin construction in early 2024 in order to be operational before the summer of 2025.

To learn more about the proposal, visit www.budatx.gov/844/Old-Black-Colony-Water-Tank.