Stories by Bill McCann
Water & wastewater bills going up 4.5 percent in 2010 budget
The Austin Water Utility’s is proposing a fiscal 2009-2010 budget that includes flat expenditures for day-to-day operations and a 4.5 percent system-wide rate increase to help pay for $1.4 billion in planned construction projects over the next five years, including…
Uncategorized • By Bill McCann • Jul 22, 2009
Austin water utility hopes to buy share in Brushy Creek system
Preparing for continued population growth in the far North Austin area, the Austin Water Utility is moving forward with plans to buy a share of the Brushy Creek Regional Wastewater System from the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA). The system…
Uncategorized • By Bill McCann • Jul 15, 2009
City reports cleaner creeks as a result of Austin Clean Water Program
The $400 million Austin Clean Water Program, established to fix the city’s sewer system and prevent sewage overflows, is paying off with greatly reduced overflows and cleaner creeks citywide, according to a report to the Environmental Board last week. …
Uncategorized • By Bill McCann • Jun 25, 2009
Austin Water Utility wins stimulus dollars to upgrade Hornsby Bend
The Texas Water Development Board on Thursday approved $31.8 million in federal economic stimulus funding for the City of Austin to expand and upgrade the Hornsby Bend Biosolids Management Plant. Austin Water Utility officials say the funding, which will…
Uncategorized • By Bill McCann • Jun 19, 2009
Water utility focusing on stopping leaks in aging city lines
With 3,600 miles of pipes connected to 200,000 customers over a 538-square mile service area, the Austin water system is a complex maze where some of the water is bound to get lost before it reaches homes, schools and businesses.…
Uncategorized • By Bill McCann • Jun 18, 2009
Water utility seeking stimulus funds for ‘green’ upgrades
The Austin Water Utility is eyeing as much as $53.7 million in federal economic stimulus funds for priority wastewater projects, including extensive and innovative upgrades at the city’s Hornsby Bend Biosolids Plant. Utility officials believe the city is in…
Uncategorized • By Bill McCann • Jun 15, 2009
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Inside story: Austin Energy audits show magnitude of electricity wasted
The first batch of energy audits required of houses going up for sale in Austin show that most of the houses are wasting a lot of energy—and money—through leaky air conditioning and heating ducts in their attics. Some 86 percent…
Uncategorized • By Bill McCann • Jun 9, 2009
Electric, water utilities prepare for a long, hot summer
As the summer of 2009 sweeps in with its hot, mostly dry weather, Austin’s water and electric utilities say they are prepared both with their physical facilities and with their continuing aggressive efforts to promote efficiency in water and power…
Uncategorized • By Bill McCann • Jun 5, 2009
Lake Austin bulkheads damaging environment, city scientist says
Using global positioning system (GPS) units for measurement, city scientists have discovered that man-made vertical walls, or bulkheads, block almost half of Lake Austin’s shoreline. That’s a problem, according to a City of Austin scientist who reported his findings to…
Uncategorized • By Bill McCann • May 27, 2009
Hogs on the loose in Northwest Austin
Concerned that the growing presence of feral hogs in far northwest Austin neighborhoods may pose health and safety risks to residents, the City of Austin is planning to take out a contract on the porcine pests. Two contracts actually. The…
Uncategorized • By Bill McCann • May 20, 2009
Developers seek major variance for Lake Travis subdivision
Concerned about the impact of a proposed six-home subdivision on Lake Travis, the source of Austin’s drinking water, the Environmental Board on Wednesday decided to do more fact-finding before deciding whether to recommend a variance to allow the project. …
Uncategorized • By Bill McCann • May 14, 2009
Businessman says solar power makes perfect business sense
To Lew Aldridge, who considers himself a practical businessman, Austin Energy’s program that offers substantial rebates to customers who install solar power is a “no brainer.” The rebates, combined with federal tax credits, make solar power “an incredible investment…
