As domestic water needs skyrocket for a developing community, the city of Marble Falls has its eye on a potential new water source – groundwater.
The city currently contracts with the Lower Colorado River Authority for surface water from Lake Marble Falls. In March, city leaders announced talks in connection with a potential purchase of a groundwater system just southeast of town.
Officials anticipate the purchase of the Flatrock Ranch LP system, near the Capstone subdivision, could cost approximately $7 million.
Marble Falls Mayor Dave Rhodes offered insight into the process.
“Engineered options need to be explored to connect the system to the Marble Falls system,” he told The Highlander. That expense itself may reach about a million dollars, he added.
A different kind of connection exists between the owners and municipality that may assist in a planned transfer of ownership.
"The city is current - ly under contract for this system and have been for 6 months," Rhodes ex plained. “Marble Falls is proposing to purchase the entire system.”
Acquisition would in -
clude the well, associated pumping equipment and development needs for the system.
One of the most crit - ical aspects of system is how much water would become available.
“The well has test- ed to a daily capacity of approximately 750,000+ gallons," Rhodes stated.
A Certificate of Con - venience and Necessity (CCN) would give the city public utility the ex - clusive right to provide retail water to city and contracted customers.
"When purchased the well and the water system would become part of the water system and CCN of the city of Marble Falls, thus the licenses to operate would be with
Marble Falls as well,” he explained.
Historically, funding sources for such a utility project could range from bonds and grants to money derived from the city's utility budget.
Officials with Teeple Partners declined comment about a possible timeline for the purchase as negotiations continue.