By Moses Leos III
Share with thy neighbor. It’s a simple concept, but one that could help local communities get through another hot, dry summer when water usage demand spikes.
Such an endeavor would be accomplished via a water sharing program between Kyle, Buda and San Marcos.
The idea credit goes to the Hays Caldwell Public Utility Agency (HCPUA) – a group comprised of the cities of Kyle, Buda and San Marcos and the Canyon Regional Water Authority, which represents County Line, Maxwell and Crystal Clear Water Supply Companies (WSC).
On Wednesday, the HCPUA board of directors unanimously approved rules and regulations governing its water sharing program.
Graham Moore, HCPUA general manager, says the goal is to defer construction of a pipeline that would ferry water from the Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer to participating cities.
Water from the Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer, a major Texas aquifer extending from the Louisiana border to Mexico, could be the contingency water supply many municipalities, and even private suppliers, seek.
Currently, HCPUA expects to build a 45-mile, $110 million pipeline project. The pipeline would include a treatment facility and two booster pump stations. HCPUA officials anticipate developing the 15 million gallon per day project by 2023. An additional 20 million gallons per day supply is projected by 2045.
However, with that multi-million dollar water transfer project a decade away, HCPUA sought short-term solutions.
“It’s an expensive endeavor,” Moore said. “We want to postpone it as long as practically possible.”
The voluntary sharing program would provide a stopgap for cities trying to fill water needs in the interim.
Under the HCPUA water sharing rules, cities must provide updated water supply and demand projections by Mar. 31. After assessing the numbers, cities that are able to can opt to commit water to be shared.
By July 31, the HCPUA board would set the rate for how much any reserved water would cost an interested city.
“It’s typical that we have those types of agreements for those water supplies in place,” Moore said. “It allows cities to pay for water before it gets delivered.”
Per its agreement, HCPUA would work directly with cities. In addition, those cities can reserve water to meet future needs.
Once the cities sign agreements with HCPUA, they would then find a way to transfer water.
At least three options are available. One involves transferring well permits from the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District (BSEACD) or Edwards Aquifer Association (EAA).
However, transfer of water rights is currently not allowed by the BSEACD. John Dupnik, general manager at the BSEACD, said the district and stakeholders, which include Kyle and Buda, sought out a plan to allow such transfers.
Due to the unprecedented nature of transferring of water rights, the BSCEAD and stakeholders withheld moving forward with it. However, Dupnik said it wouldn’t necessarily end the discussion altogether.
“The consensus conclusion of the stakeholders … was that factors that would be conducive to market-based strategies including cap and trade (transferable permits) were not in place in the District and that permit transfers should only be allowed after other strategies proved unsuccessful and, if allowed, such transaction should yield a tangible benefit for aquifer management,” Dupnik said.
Two other transfer options are on the table. One is to build a pipeline between Kyle and Buda to transfer water. Moore said an option could involve the Guadalupe Blanco River Authority (GBRA), where cities could share additional water supplies from the Canyon Lake Reservoir.
Currently, both Kyle and Buda purchase water from GBRA.
A final option would only apply to Buda, where the city would “wheel” water from San Marcos. Under “wheeling”, water from San Marcos would go through Kyle’s infrastructure, where Kyle would be compensated.
While all entities seek water solutions, staffs in Kyle and Buda say neither city is in dire straits.
Jason Biemer, facility coordinator with Kyle Public Works, said there has been no shortage of water during his three-year tenure with the city.
While the issue isn’t pressing, finding a way to share water could benefit the region.
“It’s giving governmental bodies time to evaluate what they feel most comfortable [with],” Biemer said. “I don’t think [the process] will be that difficult when you get down to it.”
Stanley Fees, Buda city engineer, says the city is only seeking an extra water source. He said no troubles are present in Buda.
“We will investigate and make sure we don’t come up with [water] issues which we aren’t ready for,” he said. “We are just securing resources.”
