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Questions & Issues Raised at October & November Public Hearings. Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority Board Meeting December 10, 2007. OVERVIEW – Public Hearing Questions & Issues. Overview of Public Hearings Questions & Issues Raised Related To:
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Questions & Issues Raised at October & November Public Hearings Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority Board Meeting December 10, 2007
OVERVIEW – Public Hearing Questions & Issues • Overview of Public Hearings • 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 Considered
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?
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?
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 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 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