Austin is planning a big underground water storage project that would provide the city with another source of water during droughts. But city planners are not sure exactly where to put it. This week, they’ll meet with residents of Lee, Bastrop and Travis counties, the three counties that may end up playing host to the […]
Water
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Watershed Protection delivers long-awaited report on trash in creeks
The Environmental Commission heard a long-awaited presentation on trash in Austin creeks at its meeting last week. Two years ago, in response to a City Council direction, the Watershed Protection Department launched a comprehensive study on trash, including dockless mobility devices, and other contaminant buildup in city waterways. The Watershed Protection Department’s Applied Watershed Research […]
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Travis County calls on LCRA to ‘get serious’ about water conservation
The Travis County Commissioners Court unanimously approved a resolution July 19 requesting that the Lower Colorado River Authority accelerate a change to its Highland Lakes water management plan. If LCRA cooperates, a “more protective” approach would be implemented to reflect Central Texas’ shrinking water supply and substantially more arid conditions. Commissioners took particular issue with LCRA’s […]
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Austin Water addresses effect of drought on agriculture
Texas’ current drought is affecting both Austin residents as well as the crops grown outside of the city. At Wednesday’s Water and Wastewater Commission meeting, representatives from Austin Water explained the far-reaching effects of the drought and efforts made to address it. “While hot and dry is not uncommon for this part of the world, […]
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City braces for imminent drought restrictions – and stiffer penalties for violators
The city of Austin likely will enter the first stage of its drought response plan later this month or next, triggering stricter restrictions and testing out recently updated penalties for customers who violate the rules. Robert Goode, Austin Water’s interim director, wrote in a May 20 memo to City Council that the utility anticipates the […]
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Austin Water to announce pilot aquifer storage site by the end of next year
The city’s water utility is inching toward its goal to store 60,000 acre feet in underground potable water reserves by 2040, according to a briefing delivered to the Austin Water Oversight Committee on Wednesday. The ambitious 20-year project will be the city’s first foray into aquifer storage and recovery, or ASR, a technology that harnesses […]
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Improvements, hiring at Austin Water likely remedies for boil-water notice
The city appears likely to approve a special budget item that will pay for more than a dozen new hires and operational software improvements at Austin Water. City Council’s Austin Water Oversight Committee voted unanimously Thursday to support the recommendations of staff that were the result of the investigation into what caused a three-day boil-water notice […]
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Committee tells auditor to seek water audit contract with UT
On Wednesday, City Council’s Audit & Finance Committee directed City Auditor Corrie Stokes to move forward with an interlocal agreement with the University of Texas to conduct an audit to review problems at Austin Water. The city has just released its internal report on the events that led to the boil-water notice in February. Council […]
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Report IDs Austin Water staff missteps that preceded Feb. boil-water notice
The city has completed its investigation into the cause of an early February boil-water notice and concluded that staff at the Ullrich Water Treatment Plant failed to take actions to address escalating equipment problems on an overnight shift. Through a combination of incorrect actions, misinterpreting data and alerts linked to water quality, and not communicating […]
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Water director recommends more staff over bill credit following February boil-water snafu
After reviewing the options, the director of Austin Water is recommending spending money on more staff and enhanced technology instead of a direct credit to customers impacted by February’s citywide boil-water notice. Council approved a March 3 resolution that, in part, asked the water utility to look into one-time bill credits for customers and alternative […]
Posted inEnvironment
Report finds Hill Country suffering the demands of rapid growth
Wide open spaces, vistas of wildflowers, dark night skies full of stars, and the charms of country living have all led to unprecedented population growth in the Texas Hill Country. That growth, and the growth that will inevitably follow, have brought the region to a crossroads, according to a new report from the Texas Hill […]
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Water utility chief answers questions about boil-water notice
Following an unexpected boil-water notice not related to a winter storm, Austin Water Director Greg Meszaros announced his resignation last week from a job he has held for nearly 15 years. Several City Council members took the opportunity to praise his leadership at Tuesday’s special called meeting; however, for most of the two-hour meeting, Meszaros […]