Need for Project
- To provide a firm supply of potable water (drinking water) to area water systems.
- Many residents and communities depend upon wells drilled into the groundwater supplies of the Edwards and Trinity Aquifers. Some of these wells experience water quality and quantity problems during low rainfall or drought. Western Canyon water will supplement these sources when they need it the most.
Current Status and Customers
- The plant was placed on line in April 2006.
- In GBRA District customers: Water is currently being delivered to the City of Boerne, the City of Fair Oaks Ranch and Lomas Water Company. Additional water supply agreements have been executed with the City of Bulverde, Tapatio Springs Resort/Kendall County Utility Company; Cordillera Ranch; and Johnson Ranch developments. Some of these certificated water supply customers are scheduled for water delivery in 2007.
- Out of GBRA District: Water is currently being delivered to the San Antonio Water System (SAWS). A contract has also been signed with the San Antonio River Authority (SARA). These agreements with Bexar County customers will supply a portion of the Western Canyon treated water, not initially required in-district, with the provision that the water will be returned at the end of the contract period.
Project Details and Cost
- A water treatment plant at Startz Hill near Canyon Reservoir treats 10 million gallons per day (mgd) of water and delivers it through approximately 45 miles of pipeline to customers in Comal and Kendall counties and portions of Bexar County.
- GBRA managed the design, permitting and property acquisitions, financing, and construction; and will operate the project, which includes a raw water intake structure at Comal Park, a 10 million gallon per day (mgd) micro-filtration water treatment plant, two booster pump stations, raw and treated water pipelines, and a SCADA (control and monitoring) system.
- Total project cost was approximately $82,000,000, financed by revenue bonds to be paid as a component of the cost of the delivered water. This covers all elements including design, engineering, plant construction, pipeline, and rights-of-way acquisition.
- In-basin per/acre cost for Canyon stored water is currently $96/acre-foot, effective October 1, 2006.
- The total cost of delivered treated water from the plant is currently estimated to be approximately $2.80 per 1,000 gallons.
Other Questions and Information:
1. Is surface water (water from Canyon Reservoir) safe to drink?
Water treated at a surface water treatment plant meeting TCEQ requirements like this one is safe to drink.
2. What is GBRA doing to control the level of trihalomethanes and other chemicals in the water?
This was addressed in the original design and "piloting studies" conducted prior to construction of this plant. The GBRA Western Canyon Water Treatment plant will use enhanced coagulation followed by membrane filtration, which targets the removal of organic precursor materials from raw Canyon Reservoir water. This limits the formation of disinfection by-products such as trihalomethanes. Other controls will be the close monitoring of disinfectant concentration and the water residence time.
3. How will the Western Canyon water differ from Trinity well water in terms of chlorine, hardness, and other chemicals?
The treatment plant was designed to produce water with water quality parameters that would blend easily with existing supplies.
4. Who should customers contact with questions/concerns?
City of Boerne
Attn: Michael Mann, Public Works Director
P.O. Box 1677, Boerne, Texas 78006-6677
830 249-9511
www.ci.boerne.tx.us
City of Fair Oaks Ranch
Attn: Dan Kasprowicz, Alderman
7286 Dietz Elkhorn, Fair Oaks Ranch, TX 78015
210-698-0900
www.ci.fair-oaks-ranch.tx.us
Cordillera Ranch/Johnson Ranch
Attn: Chris Hill
808 Highway 46 East, Boerne, TX 78006
830-336-3570
www.cordilleraranch.com
Tapatio Springs/Kendall County Utility
Attn: Stan Scott, Systems Operations Manager
P. O. Box 1335, Boerne, TX 78006-1335
830-537-5755
Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority
Attn: David Welsch, Director of Project Development
Attn: LaMarriol Smith, Manager of Communications and Education
933 East Court Street, Seguin, TX 78155
1-800-413-5822 or 1-830-379-5822
www.gbra.org
San Antonio Water System
Attn: Philip Cook, Director of Production
Attn: Anne Hayden, Public Communications
P. O. Box 2449
2800 U.S. Highway 281 North, San Antonio, TX 78298-2449
210-233-3771
www.saws.org
San Antonio River Authority
Attn: Melissa Bryant
Attn: Suzanne Scott, Director of Community and Intergovernmental Relations
P. O. Box 839980
100 E. Guenther Street, San Antonio, TX 78283-9980
210-227-1373
www.sara-tx.org
Revised: October 11, 2006