Water plant plan draws controversy

Austin (KXAN) - There is controversy over a plan to build a new water treatment plant for the city of Austin. Environmentalists would rather see the city invest in a plan to implement more water conservation programs to accommodate decades of population growth without increasing water use.

Supporters and opponents of the plan packed Palmer Events Center Thursday night to hear from a panel of city water employees and environmentalists.

The proposed plant would be built in northwest Austin at the corner of FM 620 and Bullick Hollow Road where 92-acres were purchased using bond money from 1984. Construction is slated to begin in March of 2010, but city council members face a key vote next month to approve land preparations which would keep the plan on track.

Council members sat side by side on the front row at Thursday nights meeting, still divided over the plan.

"Do we need it to start now?" asked council member Laura Morrison. "We're seeing other projections that say we can really put it off for a few years."

Mayor Lee Leffingwell disagreed. "I think it's critical to the future of Austin."

The mayor said the city has already spent $80 million on the new plant, including buying the land.

Council member Randi Shade called the vote the "point of no return." She pushed for the open forum have a focused conversation with all sides, and clear up questions before she casts her vote.

While it is not clear how much water rates would go up if the new plant is approved, there is no doubt it will increase costs for taxpayers.

"People expect to turn on their faucets and have safe drinking water," said Shade. "It's what sustains us, and there are costs associated with that."

Austin Water Utility says the city's two working plants are each more than 40 years old. Director Greg Meszaros said the plants are pumping between 85 and 90-percent capacity right now, and forecasts show a need for a new plant in five years.

"We're in effect right now driving around on our spare tire," said Leffingwell. "If something went wrong, we would be in a dire water situation."

The city would also save $90 million in construction costs if the plant stays on schedule.

But Colin Clark, with the environmental group 'Save Our Springs' challenged the city to put the plan on hold for three years. He says Austin should invest in conservations efforts instead like the city of San Antonio has done. At the podium, Clark called out Austin Water Utility for not finding innovative ways to lower water consumption like the city has done with energy consumption.

" Austin Energy is analyzing square feet of rooftops to harvest as much solar energy as we can," Clark said. "Austin Water Utility has no plan to harvest as much rainwater as we can."

The two existing plants - Ullrich and Davis pump water from Lake Austin. The proposed plant, Water Treatment Plant 4, would be pulling water out of Lake Travis.