Austin Votes To Construct Water Treatment Plant
The Austin City Council passed a controversial measure this past Thursday when it
decided to dedicate $508 million toward the construction of a new water treatment plant along Lake Travis.The possibility of a new water treatment plant being constructed isnt exactly something new. In fact, the matter has been the subject of debate for nearly 25 years already. Still, the fact that the council has decided to move forward with the project during these difficult economic times has left some a bit confused and wondering if it is truly necessary. Those who support the measure, on the other hand, feel as if the council is taking the right steps toward making sure the city of Austin and its neighborhoods such as Steiner Ranch do not run out of treated water in the near future.
The Austin City Council was decidedly split on the vote, with four of the members voting for the treatment plant and three voting against. The four who voted for the plant, which will be located on a site near to the Oasis restaurant on Lake Travis, said the city faces a potential shortage of treated water as soon as 2014. Those who voted against the measure, on the other hand, said there may never be a true need for a water treatment plant. Further, they would have preferred to see the money go toward water conservation measures. Among their suggestions were to fix the citys water pipes, which they say are currently leaking billions of gallons of water every year. Despite the controversy, crews are already scheduled to get the project under way within the next few weeks.
It is a gamble not to build the plant now, said Mayor Lee Leffingwell. And I will not roll the dice with the health and safety of the people of Austin.
Council Member Bill Spelmen, who opposed the project, said he believes the project is unnecessary for two main reasons. First, he claim to have conducted an analysis of water usage in Austin and has determined that water use per capita is declining in Austin as well as the rest of the state. Second, he determined that the project would raise water rates by 12%, or by $515 per every man, woman and child in the city. This has led to Spelman and other critics of the plant to propose a plan that will prevent low-income families and small businesses from seeing an increase in their water bills.
According to the council members who voted for the construction of the water treatment plant, the decision will not slow down water conservation methods. Nonetheless, some environmental activists are concerned by the move. In fact, some attended the meeting in order to express their opposition toward the project. How the city plans to move forward with water conservation efforts still remains unclear.
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