The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) has ranked Rockdale’s “wish list” in replacing its water and sewer systems high enough that some state help might be in the making.
But that’s going to require some tough decisions on the spending side, including water and sewer rates, by city leaders.
City Manager Chris Whittaker said he has been advised of Rockdale’s relatively high ratings in two areas, 28th of 104 in the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (sewer) and 50th of 130 in the Drinking Water State Revolving Use Fund (water).
‘WISH LIST’—“We sent them our wish list,” Whittaker said.
Last year the city put some dollar figures on what it would cost to entirely replace Rockdale’s water and sewer systems.
That total was $46,605,000 (in 2017 dollars), including $36,005,000 for water improvements and $10,600,000 on the wastewater side.
In its submission to the TWDB the city listed planned improvements of $45,090,000 for water and $14,055,000 for wastewater.
FACTOR—There’s another factor and it’s a big one.
The state also ranks those applying as to the degree they are viewed as “disadvantaged communities.”
Rockdale’s ranking was 70 percent on the water side and 50 percent on the sewer side.
Whittaker thinks those combined scores should be good enough to get the city some kind of state assistance as it proceeds with making improvements.
The city’s applications cited “rehabilitation of existing ground water infrastructure including water treatment plant, lines, water pump stations, tanks and meters” on the water side and “improvements to sewer collection and treatment system” on the wastewater side.
“How much?” and “what kind?” are the major questions still to be answered.
Whittaker said he will meet with the TWDB soon.
“KSA Engineers did a tremendous job with the applications and assistance on this path,” Whittaker said.
DECISIONS—“These ratings will help us,” Whittaker said. He noted grants, loan rates and loan forgiveness are possible. “Looking at it right now, I would say grants aren’t likely but loan forgiveness could be a possibility,” he said.
Another factor will be the amount of adjustments to water and sewer rates to be made by the city council.
City water and sewer systems are handled through an enterprise budget, funded by water and sewer rates.
The 2017 “wish list” listed replacement of 120,000 linear feet of cast iron pipes—some dating back well over 100 years—and replacement of 28,000 linear feet of asbestos cement pipe.
It also called for replacement of many sewer lines and a major retrofit at the city sewer plant.
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