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Water is always an issue

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Be honest and ask yourself, “Where does Cedar Park get its drinking water?'

The Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority (BCRUA) representing Cedar Park and Leander is working hard to build a deep-water intake on Lake Travis. The project has upset many of the residents of Volente and people living on Trails End Road. The water line as proposed will run too close for comfort for both groups and there is a battle going on.

Being a pro-growth proponent of Cedar Park and Leander, you could bet and would be right that I would never suggest or imply that our cities pass on the opportunity to tap into any water sources that might help us reach our full potential. As a matter of record, Cedar Park would have never grown to where it is today if it had not been for a forward thinking of Mayor Dorthey Duckett and her city manger Daron Butler, who stuck their political necks out 15 years ago and built the water treatment plant at the end of what is now Little Elm Trail. It got the city sued by the neighbors living close to the plant, the city settled (or lost) and Butler became famous for his often used phrase, “sometimes it is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.”

But this event jumpstarted Cedar Park's growth that has not slowed down.

Things are changing; Atlanta is a good example of a city having a water crisis and it gets much of its water from a reservoir similar to Lake Travis.

Volente residents are asking questions to anyone who will listen and bringing up good points. Cedar Park and Leander must conserve as we go forward. There are things we need to consider, such as using treated water for watering golf courses, athletic fields, parks and public medians in our cities. This would be great but would require installing separate water lines to distribute the treated water vs. the fresh water.

The suggestion would never meet a pro-growth definition, because future developers would be the ones asked to pay the bill for the separate water lines, but what are our choices? Water is an issue and local government needs to plan and implement more conservation plans now.

Finally, if you read this column I hope you learned where Cedar Park gets its water.

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