PUD working with the City of Bandera
The PUD has proposed to the City of Bandera to move their sewer processing plant to the Flying L. The city sewer plant is built in a flood zone, the state is requiring it be moved and the Flying L golf course can use the treated sewage (effluent) to water the grass. 2 years ago, I was approached by the city with the idea of combining efforts and have had several subsequent conversations. The main reason the Flying L wants to work with the city is because our golf course is using a tremendous amount of water from the aquifer to water new sod and fill ponds and if it could be replaced with treated water from the city sewer plant, it would protect our water supply.
We met with the city again last week, but the city has come up with multiple objections which we do not understand. MOC also met with us and are experts in this area who manage over 200 districts in the state of Texas. MOC tells us they do not understand the city’s objections and have offered to help the city work through their concerns, at no cost to them. However, after our meeting last week, the city informed me that they were no longer looking at the Flying L and turned down our offer to help them with calculations, permitting, and cost estimating. We believe what we are offering is a practical and cost-effective option to help the city get out of their problem.
We met with the city again last week, but the city has come up with multiple objections which we do not understand. MOC also met with us and are experts in this area who manage over 200 districts in the state of Texas. MOC tells us they do not understand the city’s objections and have offered to help the city work through their concerns, at no cost to them. However, after our meeting last week, the city informed me that they were no longer looking at the Flying L and turned down our offer to help them with calculations, permitting, and cost estimating. We believe what we are offering is a practical and cost-effective option to help the city get out of their problem.
Why this makes sense and objections from the city.1. First and foremost, protect our aquifer –There have been almost 1000 additional sprinkler heads added to the golf course and since they operate their own wells, they use an incredible amount of water from the aquifer. If they had access to more effluent, it would mean less water from the aquifer. Since the city water supply is over 500’ from the surface, protecting the aquifer should be at the top of the list. 2. Flying L Sewer plant has open capacity for the city – we are only using a small percentage of our current sewer plant for our residents. Although our plant is not large enough to handle all of the city, a much smaller plant would have to be constructed to supplement what is needed. In fact, we already have the foundation built from our old plant still on site they could build on. 3. Reduced costs – relocating to the Flying L will be less expensive than building from scratch because we already have effluent lines in place running to both sides of the golf course. The golf course has ponds that can be used to hold effluent, reducing the number of storage tanks to be built. However, the city is saying they believe it would cost an additional $10 million to move to the Flying L over other locations. We believe we could save the city money and have offered to help them with their calculations, but they have not taken us up on the offer. 4. Eliminating Bandera from dumping effluent into the river as it is now –is an obvious benefit. The 162-acre golf course is more than enough area to accommodate all the effluent from the City of Bandera and the Flying L. MOC offered to show the city how much effluent the golf course could handle but without seeing the calculations have decided against the proposal.
5. The city believes it would be difficult to work with the golf course owners – Doug Stevens, owner of the resort, told the city he was in favor of accepting the effluent but for some reason they believed he was being negative. We do not know where this is coming from. 6. Permitting issues – the city believes this project would be a “permitting nightmare”. MOC, our operators told the city they would help direct them on how to do it. We even suggested our permit could be modified to accommodate the larger amounts needed by the city. In fact the problem is the other way around. MOC told the city that modifying or changing their current permit would be a real problem if they want to continue dumping effluent into the river as they are now. Requirements have changed.
Bottom line. Bandera needs to move their sewer plant, we have capacity, we have a use for the effluent, save our river by not dumping there and protect our aquifer. There are some very good people on the council who are sincerely trying to fix a problem, we have some of the best experts in the state ready to help and frankly do not understand why they have turned us down. The city has been working on this for over 2 years, continues to have closed meetings on the subject and has paid consultants thousands of dollars. We are not giving up and still believe we can help the city as well as protecting our water supply.
If you have any questions or comments, please email us at Admin@FlyingLPUD.com and if you know any of the council, please ask them to reconsider.
If you have any questions or comments, please email us at Admin@FlyingLPUD.com and if you know any of the council, please ask them to reconsider.
PUD to Drill a New Water Well
The water well that sits across from the tennis courts was our original well that supplied the community for many years. However, it is does not supply enough water to act as a back up to our main well off Bottle Springs Rd. In the event something catastrophic happened to our main well, we do not have a viable back up water supply. The PUD board voted last week to start the process of drilling a new well. First step will be with the engineers to put together the plans and our desire is to put it in the same area as the old well, but not sure if it is possible. As this develops, we will keep everyone informed of the progress. However, this will take over a year to complete.
Fire Hydrants Update
We have started the process of painting our fire hysdrants, some are looking bad. As we get into it, you will notice the bonets are going to be painted different colors. This is to designate to the fire department the flow rate of each one. Different colors mean how much pressure they can expect from each hydrant. The body of the hydrants will all be red. At the same time, blue reflectors are being placed in the street so the fire department will be able to quickly find the hydrants at night.
Also remember, if you are having any issue with water quality or services we are here to fix it.
There is not a problem that cannot be solved.