City and County Water Systems Look at Sharing Infrastructure

The City of La Grange and Fayette Water Supply Corporation (FWSC) agreed to share the cost of a water blending study.

FWSC serves customers through two systems of water pipes - one on the east side of the Colorado River and a separate system on the west side of the river. FWSC has longwanted to join the two systems, but the cost of building a pipeline across the river would be extremely expensive.

They City of La Grange’s public water system already crosses the river. The two entities hope to eventually link their systems of pipe. Such a project would allow FWSC to pass water through the City of La Grange, thereby bolstering supply to customers of both sides of the river. The two entities have not yet finalized the details of a water sharing agreement. But the City would benefit by gaining access to some of FWSC’s water supply.

“We would basically be a transmission system for them, but at the same time we would peel off (some) amount of gallons for us to use,” said interim City Manager Frank Menefee at the La Grange City Council meeting last Monday.

Menefee said the initial cost estimate for the project stands at about $5 million, which would be shared by the City and FWSC. He compared that to the cost of the last water well the City completed, which was about $17 million.

“Where we are at now … we need to do an analysis to see if our two waters can be blended together,” Menefee said.

One of the main areas of concern involves corrosion compatibility.

However, both Menefee and FWSC President Gene Kruppa said existing data indicates the two systems are compatible.

“I fee like we should have done this a long time ago,” Menefee said.

Kruppa said the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality would have to approve the project before the two entities can blend their waters.

Menefee said the project would improve the City’s long term water security.

“This doesn’t mean we’re going to get out of the water well business,” Menefee said. “We’re going to continue to have water wells. This is just a back-up plan.”

“It gives us more ways to get water to the people who need water,” Kruppa said.

“Water is important now and it’s going to continue to be important as we get more and more people moving here,” said Councilman Ken Taylor.

Council voted unanimously to approve a cost-sharing agreement with FWSC for the water blending study. The cost of the study is $40,000, and both parties will pay half.

“This is the first step,” Kruppa said.

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