Water
 
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A 30-year vision for LCRA's water and wastewater utility services in Central Texas
LCRA has an opportunity to serve an area population that is forecast to nearly double by 2035
WATER QUALITY STEWARD

As a steward of the lower Colorado River, LCRA protects the basin's largest source of surface water. LCRA is guided by Board Policy No. 507 — Water Quality Leadership, which directs LCRA to lead in protecting and improving groundwater and surface water quality in the lower Colorado River basin. The policy also requires LCRA to strive for high water quality protection standards while constructing projects and facilities, including water and wastewater utilities.

Board Policy No. 507 — Water Quality Leadership

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In the past 30 years, growth has been explosive in parts of the Central Texas region, especially around Austin. There is little doubt that growth will continue in the next 30 years. For more than 10 years, LCRA has been asked by communities in its water service area to provide water and wastewater services.

Projected population growth
Six high-growth counties surrounding Austin will drive future demand for water and wastewater utility services in LCRA's water service area in the next 30 years — Bastrop, Burnet, Hays, Lampasas, Travis and Williamson counties.

Total population in these counties is forecast to grow to 2.5 million people from 1.3 million in 2005, based on data from the Texas Water Development Board and the Lower Colorado Regional Water Planning Group, also called the Region K water planning group. Most of the increase — representing 85 percent of this growth — is forecast for Travis and Williamson counties. But all six counties are projected to grow substantially.

Potential opportunities for LCRA to serve
LCRA projects it will have opportunities to provide water and wastewater utility services to as many as 670,000 of these new residents — about 60 percent of the projected growth. Many of these services will be through systems already owned and operated by LCRA:

LCRA also plans to provide water and wastewater services in three new high-growth areas: the Creedmoor/Maha area in northern Hays and eastern Travis counties, Williamson County (with the addition of water service), and the Upper Lake Travis/Pedernales River area.

What's needed to accomplish the 30-year vision?
To accomplish the 30-year vision and meet the region's growing needs, LCRA plans to continue to provide wholesale and retail water and wastewater utility services. It also may seek regulatory approval to serve some high-growth areas through Certificates of Convenience and Necessity.

Depending on how the vision unfolds, LCRA could possibly invest as much as $700 million in building, expanding and improving utility systems in its water service area, bringing LCRA's total water and wastewater utility capital investment to $1 billion by 2035.

-- Published Oct. 25, 2004