WHO IS CONNECTED? Cibolo makes up the majority of the Green Valley Special Utility District with 36% of connections. New Braunfels is second with 27%.
POPULATION DATA Since 2000, the city of Cibolo has seen over a 1000% increase in population, moving from 3,169 people to 32,276.
32,276
35K 30K 25K 20K 15K
Cibolo 36%
New Braunfels 27%
15,349
5K 10K
3,169
Marion 14%
Seguin 7%
0
2020
2000
2010 Years
McQueeney 8%
St. Hedwig 8%
SOURCE: UNITED STATES CENSUS BUREAU/COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER/COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
SOURCE: GREEN VALLEY SPECIAL UTILITY DISTRICT/COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
During its Dec. 14meeting, the coun- cil directed staff to evaluate essential public facilities and other facilities and provide a report detailing the evidence identified, Attorney Molly Solis said. Solis presented these findings to the council on Jan. 25. The study included a review of development permits, land studies and inquiries on development to justify the need for a moratorium. To add to the evidence to support a moratorium, Hicks mentioned the fire hydrants owned by GVSUD along the southern city limits do not provide adequate pressure. “Just going out down south, because that is the portion we are looking at, you can go out there and find the Green Valley SUD fire hydrants that do not provide the pres- sure that we need,” Hicks said. Keeping upwith growth While the city is focused on waste- water, both water and wastewater ser- vices raise questions about how the city plans to manage a steady stream of residential growth. In addition to Cibolo having its own water and wastewater services for developments near the downtown area, many Cibolo residents and busi- nesses rely on GVSUD for services. According to GVSUD’s General Man- ager Pat Allen, there are an estimated 5,000 to 8,000 new homes being built over the next five years that will fall within the district’s service area. Last year, the water district installed a little over 900 water meters, which was over their 2020 record of 800water meters in one year. As of early 2022, the district has around 15,000 connections that serve an estimated 42,000 people. According to Allen, with the development of new infrastructure,
connections and a new headquarters building, GVSUD has a goal of prepar- ing for consistent growth and working to provide water to the new develop- ments while maintaining the water quality that customers expect. On the wastewater side, GVSUD has a sewer line moving into the area sur- rounding FM 1103 and Green Valley Road that has an estimated 2,500 to 3,000 Cibolo residents waiting for the sewer line. “[We’re] trying to handle the growth; the infrastructure is not there yet,” Allen said. “The subdivisions are under construction, and we are build- ing as fast as we can.” As for GVSUD, growth and infra- structure will be at the forefront as the district works on bringing in new connections and updating older ones to ensure that the entire water system runs smoothly, Allen said. “In any rural system like this, there are out-of-bounds areas with- out much growth that have smaller lines,” Allen said. “With the additional growth out there, there will need to be additional work out to replace those 2- and 4-inch water lines.” According to Allen, GVSUD keeps water capacity flowing through a series of partnerships withwater sources and providers, such as Canyon Regional Water Authority, which helps ensure water issues will not arise. “I didn’t become manager until 2007, but back before that, we didn’t have enough water,” Allen said. “We needed more water, and I knew that. We got really involved with other projects, and that is what helped us up our ante with [CRWA] folks.” On top of the partnerships and rela- tionships, GVSUD is also thinking about the future and where water will come fromtoaccommodatenewconnections
WHAT DO THE NEIGHBORS PAY?
The average monthly water bill for residents within each city is based on a usage of 5,000 gallons. Cibolo and the GVSUD average in the middle of surrounding cities, while Schertz and the San Antonio Water System have lower average bills than surrounding cities.
60
50
40
30
20
10
SOURCE: GREEN VALLEY SPECIAL UTILITY DISTRICT/COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER Entities 0
Pausing development With developments such as Legacy bringing in around 500 homes, Cibolo Farms bringing 900 homes, Grace Valley Ranch bringing 800 homes and Santa Clara Road with multiple developments bringing 2,900 homes into the area, city officials said more research is needed to ensure infra- structure will be able to keep up with current growth. Cibolo City Council Member Joel Hicks said he has con- cerns about whether GVSUD can take on the large amount of development around the southern part of the city. “You’ve got all of these homes going to that very small [facility], and to me, it is already inadequate, but I’m not a wastewater connoisseur,” Hicks said.
CONTINUED FROM 1
However, according to the City Council, the driving force behind the discussion of a building moratorium is health and public safety. “We can’t as a community [just] say it is going to harm the public health and safety,” City Manager Wayne Reed said. “A court is going to say, ‘How?’ and when we can’t give them the specifics—our waste- water treatment plant is overflow- ing five days every month, we have inadequate water pressure for fire services— the court is going to rule against us every time.” To deny a development plat, evi- dence is necessary, Reed said.
16
COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Powered by FlippingBook