Wimberley water plan goes down the drain

Wimberley ditched a plan to build a city-owned wastewater treatment plant after a contentious city council vote on Tuesday. Instead, the city is expected to pursue continuing negotiations with a commercial water company, Aqua Texas, to hook into its existing line.

Council members also voted to terminate its contract with the company that was to have built the plant and to enter into negotiations regarding how much will be paid to that company, Black Castle, for work already done. Also, construction will continue on the collection side of the project while the city wrestles with the wastewater issue.

At the heart of the debate has been the integrity of the Blanco River and Blue Hole Regional Park. The city-owned treatment plant would have put a “purple pipe” of treated water through the park, and used effluent to water the grounds.

Council member Gary Barchfeld, who voted against the city-owned plant, said building it would pollute the Blanco “forever,” because the plan would have allowed for effluent to be discharged into a nearby creek despite preventative measures taken by the city.

The city-owned plant would have been partially funded by grants including $1 million from the U.S. Economic Development Administration and $1 million from the Way Family Foundation. By not building the plant, the city would also likely lose a Texas Water Development Board forgiveness grant of $245,000.

Four council members — Barchfeld, Craig Fore, Patricia Cantu Kelly and Mike McCullough — voted against the city-owned plant and one — Allison Davis — voted for it. Wimberley’s Mayor Susan Jaggers, a strong opponent of the city plan, does not have a vote under the city’s style of government.

The four who voted against the plant echoed similar sentiments, fearing pollution and spiraling costs.

Davis argued that the city-owned option was more affordable and that the costs of dealing with Aqua Texas were not accurate or vetted. She also said that the city-owned plan was more environmentally friendly.

“It is honoring our word, reusing our own wastewater, treating it to the highest standard and using it in away that benefits our community,” she said. “We have the land to reuse it responsibly.”

The long-term debate has caused tensions to run high in Wimberley.  Attendance at the meeting spilled outside with around 100 people setting up camp in front of city hall.