Title
Discussion and update regarding the City of Pflugerville's future water supply options.
Summary
In conjunction with the City’s planned Water Treatment Plant Expansion project that is currently under design, the City is also evaluating water supply alternatives to support the future of Pflugerville. Both the plant expansion and need for additional future water supply were identified in the City's 2020 Water Master Plan. The City retained Garver to provide Owner’s Representative services as the Owner’s agent and liaison between the Design Consultants, Construction Contractors, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), and other stakeholders for the Pflugerville Water Treatment Plant Facility Expansion Project and water supply evaluation. City Council approved this agreement on April 27, 2021. The City is growing rapidly and needs to ensure adequate water supply for its customers within the next five to ten years as well as prepare for expansive future growth by full buildout. On July 28, 2020, Garver presented the findings of a preliminary evaluation to City Council that included short-term and long-term water supply options, with an emphasis on building multi-source redundancy into Pflugerville’s water supply portfolio. In December 2020 Garver completed the attached Water Supply Alternatives Evaluation report outlining a number of potential future water sources for the City, as previously presented to the City Council.
One of the recommended long-term permanent water supply alternatives is to expand the City’s existing pump station and raw water pipeline that conveys water from the Colorado River to Lake Pflugerville. A professional services supplemental agreement with Garver was approved on April 27, 2021 to begin further evaluating this option through the Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) phase. This PER will focus on an analysis of the feasibility of constructing this project in the near-term. Other water supply options defined in the Water Supply Evaluation, such as the HB 1437 Interbasin Transfer and Round Rock Emergency Interconnect projects, are still under evaluation with the relevant stakeholders, and will be further evaluated under a separate Supplemental Agreement at a later date, once details are better-defined.
From October 2020 to May 2021, the City has met with the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) several times to discuss the details of an option related to HB 1437 Interbasin Transfer. Discussions are ongoing and will continue to be coordinated. City staff has also held preliminary conversation with Round Rock regarding a potential option for an emergency interconnect to assist in emergency situations that may arise. City staff also hosted a meeting with LCRA, the Brazos River Authority (BRA), Garver staff, and the City's water rights attorney to work out details regarding the feasibility of such an Interbasin Transfer.
This presentation is review the process and evaluation that has taken place and to give an update regarding the progress of this project and ongoing coordination with the various stakeholders in the water rights acquisition process.
Prior City Council Action
On January 26, 2021, City Council approved the engagement of McCarthy & McCarthy LLP as Special Counsel for the City for the purpose of assisting staff with permits, contracts and negotiations related to obtaining additional water rights to support the future growth of Pflugerville.
On April 27, 2021, City Council approved a professional services supplemental agreement with Garver in the amount of $311,132 for the purpose of evaluating future water supply alternatives.
Deadline for City Council Action
No action to be taken.
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Recommended Action
This item is for discussion. No action will be taken.