BY AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN
Zooming in
The plan
today and for a long, long time in the future—poten- tially through build-out,” NBU CEO Ryan Kelso said. The city’s water supply consists of seven sources totaling 50,375 acre-feet of water per year. A combination of surface water, groundwater, and purchased water eliminates NBU’s total depen- dency on the Edwards Aquifer.
Based on current projections, NBU will have enough supply to meet the current change in demand until calendar year 2042. If conservation efforts are achieved, the utility’s supply will meet demand until CY 2063, according to its 2023 Water Resources Plan Update. “We have ample supply to take care of demands
To keep up with growth and combat drought impacts, NBU is continuing to expand its water portfolio and encourage conservation. NBU maintained Stage 2 Drought Restrictions in the area, whereas other comparable utilities—like San Marcos, Kyle and Buda—are in Stage 3. The utility is also expanding its water reclamation facility and looking into Aquifer Storage Recovery, or ASR, according to an email from Reagan Peña, NBU’s director of enterprise communications. Sam C. McKenzie, Jr. Water Reclamation Facility expansion What it does: Increases water capacity from 2.5 to 5 million gallons per day Cost: $80.6 million Timeline: Oct. 2023-Sept. 2026 Funding source: Revenue from rates and impact fees Aquifer Storage Recovery What it does: Stores potable water in an underground aquifer to meet seasonal peak demands Cost: $22-25 million Timeline: The remaining cycle testing should be complete by the summer of 2027. Funding source: Revenue from rates Gonzales Carrizo Water Supply Project What it does: Brings an additional 8,000 acre-feet of treated water per year Cost: $188.5M (Infrastructure costs only) Timeline: Available in June Funding source: Revenue from rates for delivery and operations, impact fees for the infrastructure, which include pipes and treatment plants
1985
100%
New Braunfels Utilities water sources
1995
14%
41%
45%
City of Seguin Trinity Aquifer Run-of-river GBRA Canyon reservoir Edwards Aquifer
2005
33%
32%
35%
2015
13%
23%
33%
31%
5% 2% 16% 9% 14%
GBRA GCWSP GVSUD
2024
36% 18%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
SOURCE: NEW BRAUNFELS UTILITIES/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Growing challenges
Trinity Aquifer, he said. Only about 5% of the rainfall that falls on the surface of the area over the Trinity Aquifer makes it into the aquifer as recharge water, and then it takes about two years for that water to enter the aquifer. The reason why it is so slow to produce is because it is “very disjointed,” Spencer explained. If the drought continues, he said he anticipates more private wells running dry and intermittent stream flows.
Ryan Spencer, executive director of Comal Conservation—a nonprofit organization aiming to preserve land, water and wildlife in Comal County—said water is not easy to come by. “The reality is our communities are defined by water and every gallon—every drop—counts,” Spencer said.
4/12 Crawfish Boil w/ Jean Pierre and the Zydeco Angels 4/25 Jesse Lee 5/3 Dallas Moore Band Low water levels at Canyon Lake will have an immediate impact on tourism revenue and could have a significant impact on the recharge of the
SOURCE: NEW BRAUNFELS UTILITIES/COMMUNITY IMPACT
2025-2026 SEASON PREVIEW
JEFF ALLEN .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. SEPT 18 AN EVENING WITH SUZY BOGGUSS ......................................................................................................... SEPT 19 YACHTY BY NATURE ................................................................................................................................................................................... SEPT 27 DAVID BENOIT ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ OCT 3 RONSTADT REVUE ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... OCT 4 THE HEART OF ROCK & ROLL ................................................................................................................................................ OCT 11 DR. REED TIMMER EXTREME METEOROLOGIST .................................................... OCT 16 JUDY COLLINS ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... OCT 17 BROTHERS OF THE HEART .......................................................................................................................................................... OCT 27 VIENNA BOYS CHOIR ......................................................................................................................................................................................... NOV 1
LAS NUEVAS TAMALERAS ....................................................................................................................................................... NOV 20 WILL HEARN’S GRAND OL’ CHRISTMAS SHOW ........................................... DEC 2 & 3 MICHAEL MARTIN MURPHEY’S COWBOY CHRISTMAS ..................... DEC 5 THE ISAACS CHRISTMAS ............................................................................................................................................................... DEC 12 THE SWING DOLLS ............................................................................................................................................................................................ JAN 22 SO GOOD! NEIL DIAMOND TRIBUTE ............................................................................................................. JAN 23 SETH JAMES - FULL BAND ............................................................................................................................................................... FEB 6 THE MALPASS BROTHERS .......................................................................................................................................................... FEB 26 CLASSIC ALBUMS LIVE: FLEETWOOD MAC - RUMOURS ......... MAR 12 LET’S HANG ON! FRANKIE VALLI TRIBUTE ........................................................................ MAR 13
5/10 Jason Eady 5/17 Jim Lauderdale 5/30 JOSH BACA AND THE HOT TAMALES
Season packages available through the Box Office: 830-627-0808 Brauntex Performing Arts Theatre is a 501(c)3 nonprofit.
For more events or to rent an onsite cottage visit: www.rileystavern.com • 8894 FM 1102 New Braunfels, TX 78132
BRAUNTEX.ORG TICKETS AT
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NEW BRAUNFELS EDITION
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