BY GRANT CRAWFORD & MANUEL HOLGUIN JR.
What’s next
Diving deeper
The current round of construction is only one phase of a decades-long build-out. The city’s master plan divides expansion into planning horizons through 2035 and ultimately full build-out around 2068. Meanwhile, the city will reevaluate the duration for Stage 3 restrictions once temporary repairs to the Lake P ugerville pipeline are completed. Customers who do not follow water restrictions may receive formal warnings or nes that could range from $1,500 to $2,000 per occurrence. Lake P ugerville and shing piers are closed to recreational usage to include boating, swimming, and shing. To nd your water supply source, visit https://tinyurl.com/yk pmwn. During stage 3 emergency water restrictions, customers are not allowed to: Water restrictions Irrigate lawns, including automatic or manual sprinkler systems, or hand watering with a hose and bucket Fill previously empty swimming pools
exceed 75% of permitted annual average ow for three consecutive months must begin planning for expansion. At 90%, construction on that expansion must begin. Single-family homes make up about 96% of total system connections, accounting for about 62% of total water usage. Commercial customers represent roughly 3% of connections but account for almost 15% of demand. Apartments make up 0.3% of connections and 19% of usage. That imbalance, Weiss said, means long-term strain on the system may be shaped less by the number of rooftops and more by the type of com- mercial and industrial development the city attracts.
P ugerville’s population has climbed from roughly 46,000 residents in 2008 to nearly 80,000 today, with projections surpassing 100,000 within the next decade, according to city estimates. That growth curve is the foundation of the city’s water and wastewater master plans. When asked what happens if the city does not reach those growth targets, Weiss said o cials are planning conservatively. However, rather than risk being caught short, he said, the city would rather build in overall water capacity ahead of demand. Matt Rector, P ugerville public utility and engineering director, said expansion is driven not only by growth but by regulatory requirements. Under Texas regulations, wastewater plants that
What they’re saying
Weiss said commercial customers represent a small share of total accounts but consume a dispro- portionate amount of water. “It’s the businesses that disproportionately use water,” Weiss said, pointing to restaurants, retail centers and other commercial developments operating throughout the day. Weiss said the goal is to ensure businesses are not delayed by infrastructure limits, referencing other cities where development has stalled because projects could not secure water connections. The city is developing a new wastewater basin in part to relieve pressure on existing infrastructure and open capacity for additional commercial devel- opment, particularly along the SH 130 corridor.
“We need water in order to support the growth. We also need water in order to enable the growth.” DOUG WEISS, PFLUGERVILLE MAYOR
Wash cars at residences Water home or business building foundations Run ornamental fountains unless they contain sh or recirculate water Install landscaping or grass that requires
“We will have the capacity to continue to serve our community, the capacity to grow and the capac- ity to bring the amenities to our town,” Weiss said. O cials say that balancing commercial expansion with infrastructure capacity will remain central to the city’s long-term strategy.
irrigation during installation Wash sidewalks or driveways
SOURCE: CITY OF PFLUGERVILLE COMMUNITY IMPACT
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