Water systems planned to support cities' growth: Pflugerville to profit from water sales, plans new wastewater plant

Water systems planned to support cities' growth: Pflugerville to profit from water sales, plans new wastewater plant

By Amy Stansbury Friday, 07 August 2009

In the 2010 fiscal year, the City of Pflugerville expects to sell more than $1.78 million of water to the City of Manor, Manville Water Supply Corporation and Windermere Utility Company. Interim City Manager Lauri Gillam said profit will come from the water sales, though estimates have not yet been calculated.

The city signed contracts to provide water to Manor and Manville in May, and has sold water to Windermere since September 2007.

With Lake Pflugerville, the city has more than enough water to serve its 11,500 connections, which are households or businesses, and up to 21,429 in the future. In fact, Public Works Director David Buesing said the city has more water reserved than it knows what to do with.

“We built this lake to be more of a regional provider,” Buesing said. “This lowers rates for City of Pflugerville customers.”

Wastewater

The city is in the design phase for a new wastewater plant to be completed in approximately five years. The estimated $80 million project will be funded by certificates of obligation bonds, and construction is expected to begin in 2012.

The wastewater system will be constructed in phases to ultimately handle 18 million gallons per day.

The Upper Gilleland Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant near Northeast Metro Park currently serves Pflugerville’s wastewater needs. It was built in the 1980s and remodeled and expanded in 2007. With a capacity of 5.3 million gallons per day, it can serve up to 59,000 residents.

Water rates

Some water suppliers have created block-rate systems for charging water customers to encourage conservation. For residential customers with a standard 5/8-3/4-inch water meter, the following charges apply:

• City of Pflugerville
  • $13.68 base charge plus:
  • $4.35* up to 12,000 gallons
  • $4.61* 12,001-26,000 gallons$4.73* 26,001+ gallons
• Windermere Utility Company
  • $14.40 base charge plus:
  • $4.90*
• Manville Water Supply Corporation
  • $20.12 base charge, includes first 3,000 gallons, plus:
  • $2.69* 3,001-10,000 gallons
  • $2.81* 10,001-20,000 gallons
  • $2.99* 20,001-30,000 gallons
  • $3.23* 30,001-50,000 gallons
  • $3.59* 50,001+ gallons

* Per 1,000 gallons

Water suppliers

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality governs the CCN, or certificate of convenience and necessity, which is a designated service area for water.

City of Pflugerville — The City of Pflugerville has applied for more CCN in some unclaimed areas, which are noted in light blue on the map. City water customers receive Lake Pflugerville water.

Manville Water Supply Corporation — Manville Water Supply Corporation is a 30-year-old nonprofit organization owned by the water supplier’s customers. It serves 7,500 customers for residential and farming uses, such as irrigating crops and providing water for livestock. In May, Manville began buying water from the City of Pflugerville.

History: Manville was formed in 1969 after Central Texas experienced an extensive drought. Rural farmers with land outside the city limits were most affected by the dry conditions, so they formed a nine-member board with a mission of providing water to the outlying areas of northeast Travis County. Thus, Manville Water Supply Corporation — a name that stands for Manor and Pflugerville — was established.

Windermere Water Supply — Owned by SouthWest Water Company, Windermere supplies water, sewage collection and treatment services. Water is pumped out of the Edwards Aquifer. In September 2007, Windermere also began buying Lake Pflugerville water.