By Sahar Chmais
A water treatment facility that will extend services to Buda, Kyle and San Marcos broke ground on Aug. 19.
Hays County has more than doubled in population since 2010, now home to more than 241,000 residents. With expansion of Hays County comes a greater need for water, which is why the Alliance Region Water Authority (ARWA) proposed the Carrizo-Water Supply Project in 2015. Water for this project will be supplied through the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer.
The project is slated to be fully operational by late 2023, according to ARWA. The Carrizo Water Project will include 85 miles of pipeline, four wells, storage tanks, pump stations and a treatment facility. It will serve approximately 225,000 residents in Central Texas by treating over 19 million gallons of water per day.
Water usage from the aquifer has been calculated to be sustainable, according to ARWA. The Carrizo-Walcox Aquifer is composed of sand mixed with gravel, silt and clay, resulting in stable water levels, filling and absorbing water at a slower pace than other aquifers.
The water treatment plant will cost $54 million and is paid for by the cities of San Marcos, Buda, Kyle and other utility districts represented by the Canyon Regional Water Authority. Additional funds were secured through revenue bonds by entities through the Texas Water Development Board’s SWIFT Program.
Residents will continue to pay for their water through their current suppliers.
