by MOSES LEOS III
As the punishing Central Texas summer heat begins, so does water worries for cities and towns.
The ever-present concern of having enough water is serious. Many cities are already operating under a water conservation status. Buda is currently under Stage II water restrictions; Kyle is as well.
However, Buda officials are confident that recent measures will keep them from struggling to have enough water.
In January 2012, Buda adopted a Water Contingency Plan to ensure the city has enough water. Under the plan, the city first follows the current Water Conservation plan used during drought and non-drought periods.
Activities that are allowed and not allowed are as follows:
Sprinkler usage is allowed between midnight and 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. to midnight daily.
Hand held bucket, hose or drip irrigation is not restricted.
New landscapes fall under the same restrictions as existing ones, unless in the New Landscape Installation Program.
Residents can wash their cars at any time but must use a bucket and a hand-held hose with positive shut-off.
Decorative water features, such as ponds, must use recirculated water.
Washing impervious surfaces, for example driveways and parking lots, are only allowed for immediate health and safety purposes.
Swimming pools already filled are fine but filling new pools is not.
However, when drought stages are enacted, the city reacts by implementing conservation stages of their own. Each stage, which goes from 1 to 4, aims to further curtail water usage.
Buda obtains water from the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District (BSEACD) and the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (GBRA).
According to the BSEACD, the city of Buda is allotted 275 million gallons of water annually from the aquifer, at a flat rate of 17 cents per 1,000 gallons. Buda pays the BSEACD $46,750 dollars in water utility fees. Under the Contingency Plan, Buda is permitted to pump varying amounts of water, based on the city’s need and drought curtailments issued from BSEACD. This number falls anywhere between 17 million gallons in December and January to 33 million in August.
In 2002, the city acquired rights to pump raw water from the GBRE. Currently, the GBRE allows Buda 1,680 acre feet (ac/ft.) of raw water annually from the Canyon Lake reservoir, at a rate of $125 dollars per ac/ft. Buda pays the GBRE $210,000 dollars per year to obtain water from the reservoir. Buda purchases 549,000,000 gallons from the Canyon Reservoir.
In addition, the city also pays for the “debt service” and operation and maintenance of delivery systems.
“The water Buda receives comes from Canyon [Reservoir] through the Regional Raw Water Delivery System (RRWDS), then it is treated at the San Marcos Water Treatment Plant (SMWTP), then delivered to the Buda area through the Treated Water Delivery System (TWDS),” said LaMarriol Smith, Chief Strategic Communications and Public Affairs Officer for the GBRE in a recent email.
Buda spends a total of $28, 558.21 per month on debt services; of that $9,175.55 goes to the RRWDS, $8,927.29 for the SMWTP and $10,455.37 for the TWDS. Operations and maintenance rates vary depending on usage. The constant is the rate the city is charged, per 1,000 gallons. The RRWDS charges .17 cents, SMWTP .54 cents and TWDS .247 cents.
Buda assistant City Manager Brian LaBorde deemed the GBRA and BSEACD as a “very important” resource for the city, particularly during times of drought. But both entities have limitations.
According to Smith, the Canyon Lake Reservoir allows for 90,000 ac/ft. of raw water to distribute among clients. As a result, GBRA cannot give or sell any more water than a city’s contractual obligation allows.
“The 90,000 acre feet of water is spoken for,” Smith said.
She also explained that a city can increase usage based on population projections, but must restructure their contract. Buda last increased their water allotment by 560 ac/ft. in 2011.
The BSEACD regulates water consumption, especially during drought periods.
Each month, the BSEACD monitors the amount of water pumped to cities, which is based off targeted water consumption projections. If a city or entity over pumps, they are penalized.
The city also provides notification to the public on stages of drought through signage and on monthly statements. During such time, the city abstains from washing water mains.
According to LaBorde, the measures are effective, with customers responding well. LaBorde also stressed the need to conserve water.
He also assured the Hays Free Press of the city’s water availability, saying, “Staff is on top of long term solutions with GBRA, BSCEAD and the HCPUA (Hays Caldwell Public Utility Agency).”
Buda is working with the HCPUA to acquire future water rights.
For any further information, visit the city of Buda website at www.ci.buda.tx.us.
