Russell Schreiber & Steven Hinson
The NTHBA held their monthly General Membership meeting on August 1, 2013 at the Kemp Center for the Arts. Public Works Director for the City of Wichita Falls, Russell Schreiber educated members on the Wichita Falls water situation stating drought conditions are taking a toll on the entire state of Texas. He listed the many new projects the city has implemented since 2000 when conditions were worse than what we are experiencing now. These improvements on the treatment side include:
• Jasper WTP Expansion Improvements
• Cypress Conventional WTP Expansion
• High Service Pump Station
• Sludge Dewatering Facilities
Wichita Falls Public Works Director Russell Schreiber
• Chemical Building
• Secondary Reservoir Pump Station Expansion
• Ground Storage Tank Expansion
• Elevated Storage Tank Expansion
• Administration and Maintenance Facilities
• Total System Capacity 76 MGD
• Cost $118 million
Improvements on the supply side include:
• Microfiltration / Reverse Osmosis Plant
• Lake Kemp supply on-line
• Revised Drought Plan
• Elevated drought triggers
• Increased restrictions
• Secured a Global 210 Reuse authorization
• Allows reuse water to be used for numerous purposes
• Reuse water being used to irrigate some parks
• Increase budget for water main replacement
• Reduces water loss due to leaks
Conditions improved and Wichita Falls water was not much of a concern until 2011. Wichita Falls average rainfall is 28.5 inches. In 2011 we received 15.5 inches and over 100 days of over 100 degree weather, not including days that were near 100 degrees. That combined with 2012 only receiving 8.75 inches and having over 50 days of over 100 degree weather has put Wichita Falls in the situation it is today. The city became more aggressive and stage 1 drought watch began in August 15, 2011 lake levels stayed at almost 60% until July 2, 2012 when levels dropped to 49.8 % and the stage 2 drought warning was triggered. In September 2012 the Council established stage 3 restrictions and on February 5, 2013 the stage 3 drought emergency was declared and restrictions were enforced. On June 4, 2013 the Council established stage 4 drought restrictions and the city expects they could go into effect at any time. Lake levels have been staying just above the 30% level that would require stage 4 to go into effect. Mr. Schreiber reported other actions that have been taken are:
• April 2012 Staff begins to revive 1999/2000 Reuse Project
• Met with Texas Commission on Environmental
Quality (TCEQ) staff on numerous occasions
• New regulations established
Direct Potable Reuse (DPR)
Indirect Potable Reuse (IPR)
• Regulations and level of treatment identified
• Consultants hired to evaluate long-term
• reuse options
• Staff developed an Emergency Reuse Project
Now that the Emergency Reuse Project has been established the following steps and timelines have been determined to complete the project:
• Temporary Pump Station and pipeline to Cypress
Microfiltration/Reverse Osmosis Plant (MF/RO)
• Treat water through both membrane plants
• Blend water with lake water 50/50 ratio
• Treat blended water through conventional
treatment plant (water is treated 4 times)
• Concept paper developed
• TCEQ gave general approval of the concept paper
• Wholesale customers support project
• Health Board and Health Coalition support project
• Dr. McBroom MD, Dr. Mattar MD, Dr. Hallford PhD
Dr. Dodge PhD, all understand and support the project.
• Preliminary Engineering Report submitted to TCEQ
• Details entire project
• Level of Treatment for each process
• Full Scale Testing Protocol
• Plans and specifications approved by TCEQ
• Project delivery mechanism developed
• Financing of project developed
• Estimated Cost of $13 million (anticipate recovering
the pipe cost of $6 million)
• TCEQ approval expected in July 2013
• Construction to begin August 2013
• Full Scale Verification Testing February 2014
• Water in system March 2014
• Project will add 5 to 6 million gallons per day
to the water supply (all effluent is utilized)
Alternative projects were evaluated and a permanent reuse project with discharge to Lake Arrowhead was deemed the most feasible at $29,000,000.00 with a time frame of 4 to 5 years to complete. The permanent reuse project will move forward regardless of drought conditions. Following is the outline for the Ringgold Reservoir project:
• Currently conducting a Feasibility Study
• Reservoir size evaluated (firm yield, total acres required)
• Dam Site being evaluated (geotechnical analysis)
• Environmental conflicts being identified (wetlands, endangered species)
• Other conflicts to be identified (roads, wells, etc.)
• Report due in late 2013
• Project will take 20 to 30 years to develop
• Cost Estimated ~ $400 million
In conclusion the Ringgold Reservoir will be a future supply. Emergency and Permanent Reuse Projects are the next water supply that will be developed. These supplies will make the City more drought tolerant, BUT will NOT make the City completely drought resistant.
Continue to pray for rain.