Water wonder

EDITORIAL

One year ago everyone thought Rockdale water customers along about now would be coming to grips with then second of several huge rate increases to pay for a $48-million project to essentially replace our town’s entire water system.

That it hasn’t happened—at least for spring, 2020—is an indication of how many moving parts a project of this complexity has.

It’s also an indication of a couple of other factors.

One. Things can change quickly.

Two. The City of Rockdale really is trying its best to look out for its rate payers and isn’t afraid to fine-tune, or even change, its approach.

The city more or less re-booted—and that’s probably not the exact correct word—late last year when the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) mandated some changes in approach. The TWDB, at the moment, is the entity targeted to loan the city the massive amounts of money needed for the project.

Those changes might be beneficial for water customers since the TWDB may extend low interest loans to more of the project than before.

Last December the city council agreed to purchase already “drinking quality” water from an outside water company, eliminating the need to build a water treatment plant to address the iron and manganese causing “red water.”

That, however, was not forecast to be a cost-saver since Rockdale would have to foot the bill for a many-miles long pipeline to bring the “new water” to town.

However, speaking of moving parts, in the interim more information came to light, leaving city officials to believe the cost of importing water would be more expensive than sticking with its original plan.

In fact. Mayor John King said it appears it would cost the city—that means its water customers—about 65 cents per thousand gallons more to import water, compared to building a new treatment plant when all the costs are figured in.

Another moving part. During all the number crunching an idea was floated to see if it would be more efficient, and less expensive, to fund the project through the U.S. Dept of Agriculture, instead of the TWDB.

At the most recent council session, City Manager Chris Whittaker was directed to pursue more information and report back at a later date.

The bottom line on all this is that, while it’s too early to say for sure, the impact on water customers might not be as drastic as first envisioned. That’s not to say it won’t be substantial. You don’t upgrade any system which hasn’t kept up the times since the Truman Administration without some pain.

But, as consultant Matthew Garrett told the council last week, in regard to what now appears to be happening with the moving parts: “You’ve got a lot of things working in your favor.”

Let’s hope so. Rockdale’s water system certainly needs a lot of things working in its favor.

It’s sure about time.—M.B.