Sewer system change creeping forward
The city of Wimberley has responded to a 10-point document from the Texas Water Development Board outlining the information that was still needed from the city before considering a change in scope for the wastewater project.
The entire packet from the city on the proposed change in scope is more than 900 pages after the recent additions were made. Throughout the document, the city states the case for the change in scope arguing that it is a more environmental friendly option and more fiscally responsible.
In the response, the city clarified which recommendations from Texas Parks and Wildlife it would follow during the construction of a pipeline under Cypress Creek. Of the 14 recommendations made, the city stated it would follow all but one. Most of the recommendations surrounded how to handle runoff, erosion and natural habitat including the possibility of disturbing Golden Cheek Warbler habitat. But the recommendation the city said they couldn’t follow was specific to the drilling of the pipeline.
Texas Parks and Wildlife recommended drilling entrance and exit points at least 500 feet from the streambed. The city said that is not “practicable” for the chosen location.
“Locating drilling entrance/exit points 500 feet from the streambed is not practicable due to the limited size of the creek and locations of existing improvements. Construction across the creek will be a safe distance from the streambed in order to minimize erosion and disturbance of existing vegetation. The City of Wimberley shall prepare a fac-out spill containment plan and HDD contingency plan prior to initiating work.”
In the same recommendation TPWD requested “secondary containment” around the pipe to ensure there are no leaks, which is often referred to as a “double sleeve.” The city said that the pipe they will use “does not have any joints where leaks could occur” and further stated that “there is no need for a secondary containment pipe at this crossing. Installing a casing pipe would double the cost of this crossing without providing a significant benefit to the environment.“
The city added additional clarification to multiple topics about or posed at the public hearing held in January. The city explained that documents were added to the public review after the packet had been initially placed in public because they realized the original document was not complete. They also clarified that every fifth speaker during the meeting was selected to have an opportunity to speak as opposed to starting from the top of the list and that the city feels a second public hearing is not needed because the people who didn’t speak had the opportunity to submit written or emailed statements. The city said 113 statements were emailed and 31 were written in addition to the 29 that were spoken at the meeting.
The city response also addresses concerns about the loss of more than $2 million in grant funding by changing the scope of the project stating that under the new plan “the total Project cost is considerably less than the original plan. Thus, funding requirements were significantly reduced.”
The pipe used for the directional drill will be welded HDPE, which does not have any joints where leaks could occur protecting the Edwards aquifer creek inhabitants.”
The Texas Water Development Board confirmed that they had received the city’s response and were evaluating it, but they did not know when the item would appear before the board of directors next.
To see the full document, visit www.cityofwimberley.com and click on “Wastewater Project.” The full response is titled “Request for Public Hearing Documents and Environmental Information for City of Wimberley Change of Scope - Response (Reduced).pdf”