Got Water?

An article in the FWST confirms what folks have been saying for years.  Water is drying up as fast as the money. So how will Fort Worth sustain all these news (tax abated) businesses and residents with no water and no functioning free(toll)ways?  Someone may want to flip the switch and turn the Bat signal on already.

“Obtaining new supply sources to get us more water and to meet those growing needs is going to be very expensive,” said Mary Gugliuzza, spokeswoman for the water department. “It is going to cost considerably more than what our conservation efforts are costing.”

Councilmen Jungus Jordan and Joel Burns, both members of the infrastructure and transportation committee, said the conservation efforts are needed to safeguard water for future generations.

“Even if we started today, it would be 20 to 30 years before we could bring in new supplies of water,” said Jordan. “The biggest concern is that we do what we can today to ensure that this important resource is available to us in the future.”

If you'd like to learn more from a survey you never heard about, come out next Tuesday.  It should be fun.

On Feb. 27, Fort Worth water customers are invited to hear how the input they provided last year was used in developing the proposed revised conservation and drought plans. The 6:30 p.m. meeting is at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd.

The proposed revisions are based on public input the water department received last year through a phone survey, online survey, workshops and a virtual meeting that allowed people to participate using a phone or the Internet. Tarrant Regional Water District also conducted a phone survey of Fort Worth customers.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality requires these plans be updated every five years. The revisions must be submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality by May 1. The Water Department is scheduled to review the proposed plans with the Fort Worth City Council on March 18 and bring the appropriate ordinances and resolutions forward for City Council action on April 1.

In addition, there was a regional effort among major Metroplex water providers to develop consistent stages, goals and actions for when a drought or emergency response is needed. This effort included the North Texas Municipal Water District, Tarrant Regional Water District, Upper Trinity Regional Water District, the Trinity River Authority and the cities of Fort Worth, Dallas, Arlington and Mansfield.

Entities that purchase treated drinking water from Fort Worth are required by contract to have the same mandatory measures for their customers. The wholesale customers that regularly purchase water include Bethesda Water Supply Corp., Burleson, Crowley, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Dalworthington Gardens, Edgecliff Village, Everman, Forest Hill, Grand Prairie, Haltom City, Haslet, Hurst , Keller, Kennedale, Lake Worth, Northlake, North Richland Hills, Richland Hills, Roanoke, Saginaw, Southlake, Trophy Club Municipal Utility District, Westlake, Westover Hills, Westworth Village and White Settlement