At yesterday’s meeting of the Board of Directors of the Brown County Water Improvement District, discussion was held regarding upcoming upgrades to the treatment plant. The plant is now twenty years old and needs upgrades to electronics and computer systems, as well as filter membranes.
The plant is still using the original filtration membranes, which have a rated life of ten years. District General Manager John Allen reported that the treatment plant staff, led by Cody Shannon, has done an exceptional job of maintenance on the filters, thus doubling their life span and saving a large amount of money for the District. While the membranes are still in good shape and producing clean water well within standards, it is time to start looking at replacing them (twenty filters). The membranes cost $3,000 each when purchased in 2004, and will undoubtedly cost much more today. In addition the District is considering adding three more filtration membranes for a total of 23.
The District is working with the engineering firm of Freese and Nichols on the project. The total cost of the project is not yet known, but will be a multi-million dollar project, according to Allen.
In other business, the Board voted to grant a fireworks permit to Wild Duck Marina for Saturday, July 6. Wild Duck has hosted a 4th of July fireworks show for several years. This year they have contracted with a new fireworks show producer, and promise a bigger and better show than ever.
The Board also voted to cancel a 2-inch water connection currently held by Wyman Kelcy. The 2-inch connections, of which there are several in the District, supply untreated water at a flat monthly rate. Kelcy used the 2-inch connection for water used in the trucks of his business, Kelcy Paving Contractors. Two years ago a Kelcy employee mistakenly hooked up a pump incorrectly to the line and accidentally injected asphalt into the water line. That necessitated a massive clean-up project required by the Texas Council on Environmental Quality. The clean-up cost $12,000, and the District was eventually reimbursed by Kelcy. Kelcy asked to keep the 2-inch water line, but the Board voted to cancel it.
General Manager Allen reported that as of yesterday Lake Brownwood was 2.0 feet below full, which translates to 89.2% capacity. Last year at this time the lake was at 76.6% capacity, and just last month it was at 72.9%. The average capacity of lakes statewide is currently 77.7%.