Tag Archives: Austin Water Oversight Committee
Austin Energy's climate protection plan timeline comes under fire
After an unpopular first draft, Austin Energy is taking a new approach to update its Resource, Generation and Climate Protection Plan. Staff says the approach, led by a newly hired mediation specialist, will employ strategies that bring new voices to…
Energy • By Kali Bramble • May 2, 2024
Water reuse plan coming back to Council next month
In March, City Council is scheduled to consider making on-site water reuse mandatory for a majority of large future projects as part of the city’s Water Forward plan. Council postponed consideration of the reclaimed water reuse rule last November after…
Water • By Jo Clifton • Feb 9, 2024
Council committee gets drought update
Austin Water Utility officials didn’t promise any miracles during a briefing on the city’s drought response and water supply at last week’s Austin Water Oversight Committee meeting. As of Aug. 14, the city was in exceptional drought conditions that pushed…
Water • By Elizabeth Pagano • Aug 28, 2023
As drought worsens, Austin Water ramps up conservation protocols
Despite an unusually rainy spring, Austinites should hold off celebrating any end to the statewide dry spell. Austin Water staff joined City Council’s Austin Water Oversight Committee last week to discuss the ongoing crisis, confirming that the city is still…
Water • By Kali Bramble • Jun 6, 2023
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Austin Water says it's doing better in the face of crises
At Wednesday’s joint meeting of City Council’s Audit and Finance Committee and the Austin Water Oversight Committee, Austin Water Director Shay Ralls Roalson answered questions about a variety of topics, but one of the most difficult involved vacancies within the…
Water • By Jo Clifton • Mar 30, 2023
Austin Water to discuss progress on improvement plan today
In the wake of five troubling incidents between 2018 and 2022, which led the former director of Austin Water to resign, the utility’s current leaders have been working to complete changes intended to prevent future service disruptions, such as boil-water…
Water • By Jo Clifton • Mar 29, 2023
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City moving forward with new floodplain maps from Atlas 14 rainfall study
The city is moving forward with its effort to update its floodplain maps, in anticipation of an expected increase in dramatic rainfall and flooding events caused by climate change over the next decade. Earlier this month, the Watershed Protection Department…
Land Development Code • By Chad Swiatecki • Dec 20, 2022
Flash Flood Alley could see some action on flood relief
In the wake of 2017’s Hurricane Harvey, the Texas Legislature directed the creation of a plan that could guide state and local flood control policy. Now the regional plan concerning Central Texas is getting close to the finish line. Set for…
Public Safety • By Andrea Guzman • Oct 26, 2022
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City highlights resilience measures during Wildfire Awareness Month
The city of Austin is no stranger to irregular weather patterns, with some predicting that near-record May temperatures foreshadow an unusually hot and dry summer. With temperatures rising, staff members across a number of city departments are bolstering their defenses…
Environment • By Kali Bramble • Jun 1, 2022
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…
Water • By Kali Bramble • May 27, 2022
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…
Water • By Chad Swiatecki • Apr 1, 2022
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…
