Texas approves financial assistance for water projects

The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) has approved $60m in funds for water projects, helping three communities facing critical water situations in the US state.

Of the total amount, approximately $10m was allocated to the City of West in McLennan County, which faced a severe fertiliser plant explosion in April that killed and injured residents and destroyed part of the city.

TWDB staff have worked with West to identify funding for water and wastewater system repairs and to replace infrastructure across the city.

The board has allocated approximately $1.9m to the City of Sweetwater in Nolan County. The money will be used to expand its existing groundwater supply by developing a new well field, to construct transmission facilities, and to improve the supervisory control and data acquisition system.

The City of Breckenridge in Stephens County will receive approximately $2.4m after facing severe drought conditions which destroyed its water supplies. Hubbard Creek Reservoir, Breckenridge’s main source of water, is anticipated to be restricted or entirely depleted by the end of 2014.

The city plans to install an emergency floating pump station, continue to implement water conservation measures, and determine modifications needed to purchase water from Stephens Regional Special Utility District in emergency situations.

The TWDB has also approved population and water demand projections, which are the first step in the regional water planning process and the foundation for developing the state water plan and 16 regional water plans.

Municipal demand projections are significantly reduced from those used in the 2012 State Water Plan, indicating that water conservation measures are being implemented in Texas communities at a greater rate than was previously anticipated.