The Texas Legislature's halls are full of discussion of State Water Plan funding! Unfortunately, education, transportation, and probably many others are also well aware that the Texas Rainy Day Fund "cookie jar" may be broken open this session. Even more unfortunately, many small Texas water utilities are a long way away from being fully prepared to capture any money that may be left on the table after the state's strongest political interests have agreed to raid that cookie jar.
Electric generating companies, especially nuclear power generators, need more water. So do the oil and gas fracking activities that are more possible and profitable than your local water utility. Despite this, small Texas water utilities desperately need water for economic survival and growth!
The challenge for these local water utilities is huge. Your community should:
- Influence current legislation to include reasonable funds for small water utilities.
- Influence current legislation so that past capital planning delays will not prevent your access to proposed new funds.
- Get capital plans updated comprehensively so that your economic future is based on water reality not "rain dance dreams".
- Be sure your plans are part of existing or amended future Regional Water Plans that are required before gaining access to state funding.
- Get local water and sewer rates adjusted to cover future cost and avoid covering any extraneous expenses like routine street repair.
- Verify that local emergency plans are realistic for a drought that continues while planning and funding and building are taking place.
- Review drought contingency and water conservation plans. Both plans are critical to support emergency plans and current water reality.
- Figure out if treated wastewater is being used to maximum value. Irrigation on the football field or frack water sales may have benefit.
- Check with your neighboring community to maximize your joint impact through infrastructure, operational, or political cooperation.
- Don't let "Friday Night Fever" deprive you of cooperative opportunity. Keep in mind that the City of Houston has more state legislators than all of west Texas combined.
- Find out if your current inventory records for water meters, valves, manholes, pipelines, etc. are up to date and captured so that someone other than your long time plant operator can use the information if your operator "wins the lottery." This capital inventory has been required for the past several years to comply with your independent financial audit requirements. GASB-34 is not only an audit requirement, it is also useful infrastructure planning tool. This inventory effort may be just what is needed to keep you in the game for State Water Plan Implementation funding.
Likely, very few small Texas water utilities are on top of all these challenges. The current political, regulatory, and local awareness challenges will resolve in your favor with your best effort in a focused improvement planning process.
It is clear that the discussion in Austin is focused on the money, but if your local utility capital planning foundation is not strong, you will be less than fully ready to receive and/or qualify for the money. Maybe your community will be lucky and an enforcement crisis from TCEQ will be substituted for better planning. Maybe. You can hope.
Bell Engineers and Consultants would like to help your community review, organize and make progress on the overall effort outlined here. We are well acquainted with many of the local engineering firms that are already qualified to design your improvements. Call us to discuss adding Bell Consultants to your team. Our experience is extensive and our rate structure may be very competitive. Try to gain your reasonable place in the Texas Water Development Board's loan and/or grant line when the limited funds are made available. We are ready to help!
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