By Christin Coyne
ccoyne@mineralwellsindex.com
Plans to deal with a long-term water shortage at Lake Palo Pinto are progressing, according to city officials.
The cost to the city’s general water fund to blend in Brazos River water to reduce demand on Lake Palo Pinto could run around $100,000 with additional pumping and treatment costs, Mineral Wells City Manager Lance Howerton said.
The target date to begin pumping river water over the diversion dam south of Hilltop Water Treatment Plant and begin blending in 20 percent to 30 percent river water is Aug. 1, according to Howerton
Even if the city does not have to implement stage three water restrictions by that time, the city will begin blending to keep Lake Palo Pinto as a water source as long as possible, Howerton said.
After the pipeline is laid and ready to go, pumping river water over the diversion dam and needed additional treatment will also cost the city but is the cheapest option at this point, according to Howerton.
The city is also looking at using water from the Lake Mineral Wells in coming months if needed but has two options, Howerton said.
Installation of leased or purchased package treatment plants will have water from the Lake Mineral Wells ready to go without going through the Hilltop facility or the city can lay a line from the lake to Woodland Park Cemetery, where a pipeline runs to the treatment plant.
The city will be able to obtain about 1 million to 1.5 million gallons from Lake Mineral Wells for a period of time, according to Howerton.
If all other water supplies run out, the city has the option to use only Brazos River water, Howerton said. The last option would be costly because the undiluted river water would require reverse osmosis treatment, which the plant is not set up to perform, Howerton said.
Howerton said he does not yet know how the additional water costs will affect customers.
“We will have water for this community even if we don’t have significant rain over the next 12 to 18 months,” Howerton said. “We are planning for the worst, hoping for the best.”
“I think we’re having some pretty good success with water conservation,” Howerton said. Daily water use has been ranging from the upper 4 million gallons to the mid 5 million gallons range.
Rain helped lower city use to 4.1 million gallons Monday, Howerton said.
The Inspections Department had 12 written warnings for watering violations recorded, according to building official Robert Turk. No citations have yet been issued.
Police, the Public Works Department and others with the city have also been issuing verbal warnings.
“Based on my personal experience, we are seeing some pretty good compliance,” Howerton said.
Lake Palo Pinto is currently at 856.25 feet above mean sea level. Without rain, Lake Palo Pinto will likely reach 856 feet above mean sea level, which triggers stage three water conservation measures.
When stage three water restrictions will be implemented and what they will look like is currently being decided, according to Howerton.
“It’s a balancing act – we’re trying to work with our citizens … and we have to conserve as much as possible,” Howerton said. “There will be some give and take.”
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