At Tuesday night’s meeting of the Brown County Water Improvement District, the board approved limited sales of water directly from Lake Brownwood to non-waterfront properties.   Previously, only waterfront properties could be authorized to use water directly from the lake for residential use.  The water district recently discovered that there were some areas of Lake Brownwood where non-waterfront properties had tapped into lines for residential use.  These homes have been getting water this way for numerous years.   Many current home owners getting water in this way were unaware that it was against the district’s rules since the properties had changed hand many times over the years.

The district now will allow these homes and other non-waterfront homes to get water directly from the lake via intake or water tap through a special water sales contract (subject to case by case approval), provided the property meets specific guidelines. 

Some of these guidelines include but are not limited to:  the lot being serviced must be residential, a distance of ½ mile from the shoreline of Lake Brownwood, intake/tap must 2”, and size of the lot it supplies must be 1 acre or less.  The water supplied will be raw water not intended for human consumption or use (ie, watering a lawn).   There was also discussion of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) guidelines of a single water line being limited to service up to 8 homes and servicing no more 25 people before a line is considered to be a resale line for water if the homes or occupants are present more than 60 days out of the year.  If a line exceeded those residential guidelines, then it would be considered a commercial line, which is not being considered by the board.

The BCWID adamantly stated that any lines not meeting the TCEQ requirements will result in costs to the homeowners to correct.  A standard contract for the non-waterfront sales is being drafted for next month’s meeting.   Currently the charges for water taps are $320/year on a 2” tap.  Waterfront property intakes have no fee assessed at this time.  The new rules apply to existing non-waterfront properties as well as potentially new homes at the lake.

Other items on the agenda included:

*A report from Mike Morrison and Chris Jones of Freese & Nichols along with a statement from Scott Ellison of Pall Corporation regarding the microfiltration plant being up and running at near capacity.  The final test will be completed when the final rapid mix is installed around mid July.  Final acceptance will be when the plant is rated at capacity of 7.5 million gallons per day.  The actual production of the plant, depending on variable conditions, is expected between 5.5 to 12 million gallons per day in actuality, according to BCWID General Manager Dennis Spinks.

*Partial payment to Pall Corporation of $600,000 was approved, with the remaining money being withheld until all other needed work is completed.  The warranty of the parts to the plant was also discussed with Pall, and an agreement of a 90 day warranty will be honored from the date of the project completion and final acceptance occurs.

*A report was given by BCWID General Manager, Dennis Spinks, regarding the assignment of a new manager for the Thunderbird Bay Water Supply.  In selecting a more permanent management company, Zephyr Water was mentioned as a possibility if they decide to apply to take over the system, since they have water lines that are the closest in proximity to the system.  Brookesmith SUD is also an option, as they also have water lines in the general area.

Spinks also stated that Wayne Creel, Assistant City Administrator of Early is working on securing easements for supply lines to be extended toward the area.  There are still several landowners that are continuing to refuse; however legal measures may have to be taken up, possibly even condemnations for eminent domain. 

*The board approved renewal of one year license agreement for Lance Vaughan, DBA V5 Ventures L.L.C., for rental of jet skis, rental boats and related water craft at Lake Brownwood.

*Jimmy Jones, a homeowner in the William Baugh II Addition, thanked the BCWID for cleaning up the area of mobile homes that were an eye sore near Kirkland Docks.  “We as neighbors appreciate that and have had a lot of compliments on it,” stated Jones. 

After the meeting, Spinks noted that the lake is currently at approximately 4.6’ below spillway (as of Monday June 7th).