Texash2o summer2015 (1)

TEX Sh2o | Summer 2015 |



The Official Newsletter of the Texas Section AWWA | Every Drop, Every Day, Everywhere©

CHECKING IN WITH THE TCEQ

Page 3

LEGISLATIVE RECAP

How the last session impacted water | Page 9

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

What is Legionnaires' Disease? | Page 10 A visit to El Paso Water Utility's New Facility | Page 12

SWIFT Update | Chapter Events | Calendar | and more!

| tceq update |

TCEQ Braces For Next Drought

BY JORJANNA PRICE

W

ith Texas’ widespread drought officially declared over, officials overseeing the state’s public drinking water program can devote more attention to other high-profile issues.

That’s not to say the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) won’t be keeping an eye on the remaining water systems still restricting outdoor water use. At the end of July 2015, about 700 systems retained mandatory watering limits, and another 400 were asking customers to voluntarily follow a watering schedule. About two dozen systems have been placed on a “high priority” list because they might run out of water in the next six months.

For Linda Brookins, director of the Water Supply Division, the drought experience is still on her mind.

“If you look back to the drought of the 1950s, they had a cycle much like this — several extremely dry years and then a year with rain like we’ve had in 2015. But the second half of the drought that followed was much worse than the first half.”

That’s why Brookins and her staff continue to pursue goals such as developing innovative water projects, but they also are concerned with federal drinking water regulations and increased water demands to keep up

Gary Chauvin, manager of the TCEQ Public Drinking Water Section and Linda Brookins, director of the TCEQ Water Supply Division Photo courtesy of Jorjanna Price.

with the state’s booming population.

Brookins and her water supply team oversee the state’s public drinking water systems (including enforcement), water districts and drought emergencies.

Texas has about 4,600 community water systems, CONTINUED PAGE 22 | tceq update

Creating a better water environment FEATURES

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TEXASh2o SUMMER 2015 | 3 |

| letter from the texas section chair |

Transitions Texas Section American Water Works Association P.O. Box 80150 Austin, Texas 78708 www.tawwa.org Jennifer Elms, Chair 713-784-4500 Daniel Nix, Chair-Elect 940-691-1153 Bruce Curtis, Vice-Chair 972-602-1001 Alissa Lockett, Imm. Past Chair 210-233-3401 Mike Howe Executive Director/Secretary-Treasurer 512-238-9292 Fax: 512-238-0496 mikehowe@tawwa.org This publication is distributed bi-monthly to the more than 3,500 members and friends of the Texas Section – American Water Works Association.

Contributing writers can contact the editor: Cliff Avery GCP Association Services PO Box 676 Pflugerville, TX 78691 512-251-8101 Fax: 512-251-8152 texwater@texas.net The publication name, TexasH2O: © 1996-2015 Texas Section – American Water Works Association, Inc. © 2015 Texas Section – American Water Works Association, Inc.

FOLLOW TAWWA ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER!

Texas AWWA

@txawwa

| 4 | SUMMER 2015 TEXASh2o

BY JENNIFER ELMS texas section chair

T

ransition. Change. Not many of us like change, but we all know that it is inevitable. If we do not change, if we do not grow, what will tomorrow look like? If you were at ACE15 in Anaheim, the Opening General Session was amazing, from discussing this “Big Blue Marble” that we all live on, to a moving presentation on transitions by David LaFrance (CEO of AWWA).

A special video was presented on transition (it’s available on YouTube; I even found it). We JENNIFER go through transitions in our daily life all of ELMS 713-784-4500 the time, but how is AWWA, and by extension, jelms@ehrainc.com the Texas Section of AWWA, transitioning? As a result of the Special Presidential Panel (SP2), recommendations were made to the Association's Board of Directors on five distinct areas of the business of the organization — Communication, Education, Branding, Finance and Membership. Those recommendations have led us to AWWA2020: A Path to One AWWA. In late July, the Executive Committee had the opportunity to attend Summer Workshop in Denver. The purpose of Summer Workshop is to be about the business of the organization. So we’re not the Board of Directors, but we, your Section Officers, are the pipeline from the top to the membership. As an engineer, I always say that I can put anything on a piece of paper, but it may not always be constructible. The same holds true here. The Board of Directors can come up with all sorts of initiatives and strategic plans, but if the membership is not aware of the goals or these goals are not shared with the membership, who is going to achieve these goals? As Mike always says, “I can’t be all things to all people.” The Section Leadership can’t achieve these goals without involving the membership.

One of the most important parts of this transition is the way we view education. The session on Education at Summer Workshop was filled with ideas. One specific model for sharing information was presented where, as a Section develops trainings, classroom or web-based materials, there CONTINUED PAGE 19 | letter from the texas section chair

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| executive director report |

Not Out of the Woods

BY MIKE HOWE tawwa executive director

L

ast time we spoke, we had seen enough rain statewide to ultimately allow officials to declare the State "drought free." That was good news, and there was much talk about El Ni単o conditions bringing us rain this fall. Wichita Falls switched off their direct potable reuse project and converted to indirect use as originally intended. And, there was great discussion among water professionals as to which drought stage various cities were going to adopt now that the drought was over.

Ok. Now what? Since the incredible, and in some places tragic, rainfall of Memorial Day, it has not rained in Austin.

Ok. It did sprinkle one or two days, but no rain of real value. The ground is drying out and cracks are reappearing. As I write this, much of Texas is experiencing tripledigit temperatures, and the likelihood of rain seems slim.

I know I'm sounding really negative, but I think some of my water conservation

MIKE HOWE 512-238-9292 mikehowe@tawwa.org

CONTINUED PAGE 26 | executive director report

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CONTINUED PAGE 30 | executive director report

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| legislative recap |

Legislative Recap

BY CLIFF AVERY texas h2o editor

W

ith the 84th Legislature in the history books, the focus on Texas water issues will shift to the 2016 elections and to any interim studies lawmakers conduct for the 85th Legislature convening in 2017.

The studies will be important, but many senior legislators have already announced they won’t be candidates again and their participation will be a last hurrah.

Rep. Jim Keffer of Eastland, a TAWWA member and chair of the House Natural Resources Committee, is leaving, as is Sen. Troy Fraser of Horseshoe Bay, the chair of the Senate Natural Resources and Economic

www.tawwa.org

Development Committee. These key committees have historically handled most of the water bills. The impact of Fraser’s departure is lessened somewhat in that Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s committee structure siphoned water topics from Fraser’s committee to the Agriculture, Water and Rural Affairs Committee (AWRA) in 2015.

Sen. Charles Perry became the first freshman senator since 1993 to chair a committee when he was named to head AWRA. The 84th Legislature was fairly quiet on water issues, especially in comparison to the 83rd, which passed HB CONTINUED PAGE 20 | legislative recap

TEXASh2o SUMMER 2015 | 9 |

| legionnaires' disease |

Fast Facts About Legionnaires' Disease Editor’s Note: As of August 14, 2015, there have been twelve deaths this summer in New York’s South Bronx attributed to Legionnaires’ disease. These facts about Legionnaires’ disease come from the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.

• Legionella bacteria can cause Legionnaires’ disease or Pontiac fever, collectively known as legionellosis.

• The bacterium was named after an outbreak in 1976, when many people who went to a Philadelphia convention of the American Legion suffered from this disease.

• An estimated 8,000 to 18,000 people are hospitalized with Legionnaires' disease each year in the U.S. • Legionella bacteria are found naturally in the environment, usually in warm water.

• Legionella bacteria are not transmitted from person to person.

• People get Legionnaires' disease or Pontiac fever when they breathe in a mist or vapor (small droplets of water in the air) that has been contaminated with Legionella bacteria.

• Keeping Legionella bacteria out of water is the key to preventing infection.

• Most people with Legionnaires' disease will have pneumonia (lung infection) since the Legionella bacteria grow and thrive in the lungs.

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| drought maps |

Despite May Rains, Drought is Back in Texas

A

mere two months after the rainiest month on record, Texas is heading back into a drought.

A quick glance at the July 14 and August 11 drought monitor maps shows drought expanding back into the eastern half of the state.

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| el paso water utilities |

What I Did One Hot July Day

BY MIKE HOWE tawwa executive director

A

casual conversation with Fred Blumberg of Arcadis at the June TWCA meeting had me on a flight to El Paso on July 17 to join a small tour of the new Advanced Water Purification Facility (AWPF), currently in the pilot testing stage. I was also going to tour the Kay Bailey Hutchison Desalination Plant, the largest inland facility of its kind in the country.

As you know or might guess, maintaining adequate water supplies for a growing metropolitan community in the

| 12 | SUMMER 2015 TEXASh2o

desert with declining water resources has been a steady challenge for El Paso. Impressively, they continue to meet the challenges, whether it is through innovative technologies, advanced conservation programs or a very aggressive leak detection program.

But, back to my journey. I always forget how hot it really is in the desert, so I foolishly failed to dress for the occasion. So, after shedding CONTINUED PAGE 18 | el paso water utilities

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| swift projects |

First Round of SWIFT Projects Approved The Texas Legislature created the SWIFT to provide affordable, ongoing state financial assistance for projects in the state water plan. The SWIFT helps communities develop and optimize water supplies at cost-effective rates. The program provides low-interest loans, ex2015 SWIFT Commitments

tended repayment terms, deferral of loan repayments and incremental repurchase terms for projects with state ownership aspects.

The following projects have been approved under the SWIFT:

Updated July 23, 2015

Applicant

Project Description

Amount

Brazosport Water Authority

Brackish Groundwater R/O Water Treatment Plant and Wells

$28,300,000

Canyon Regional Water Authority

Wells Ranch Ph II-Well Field and Transmission Line

$55,000,000

Central Harris County Regional Water Authority

2nd Source Transmission Line PH 1 & Ph II (84" & 108"), Northeast Water Purification Plant Expansion

$41,630,000

City of Bedford

Conservation-Water Distribution System Improvements

$90,000,000

City of Fort Worth

Conservation-Advanced Metering Infrastructure Project

$76,000,000

City of Houston

2nd Source Transmission Line Ph I (108"), Northeast Water Purification Plant Expansion

$296,125,000

City of Marfa

Additional Water Well

$705,000

Coastal Water Authority

Luce Bayou Interbasin Transfer Project

$300,000,000

El Paso Water Utilities

Land and Water Rights Acquisition

$50,000,000

Greater Texoma Utility Authority, City of Tom Bean

Supplemental Water Well and appurtenances

$1,210,000

Guadalupe Blanco River Authority

Integrated Water and Power Plant Project

$8,000,000

Hays Caldwell Public Utility Agency

Phase IA Transmission Line

$12,500,000

Hidalgo County Irrigation District #1

Agricultural Irrigation Conveyance Improvements

$7,100,000

Lone Star Regional Water Authority

E Williamson Co Regional Water Transmission System

$27,640,000

North Fort Bend Water Authority

Northeast Water Purification Plant Expansion, 2nd Source Transmission Line (96")

$555,845,000

North Harris County Regional Water Authority

2nd Source Transmission Line PH I & Ph II (84" & 108"), Northeast Water Purification Plant Expansion, Internal Distribution System

North Texas Municipal Water District

Lower Bois d'Arc Creek Reservoir & Facility Improvements

Palo Pinto County Municipal Water District #1

Turkey Peak Reservoir

Tarrant Regional Water District

Integrated Transmission Pipeline Project w/ City of Dallas

$440,000,000

Upper Trinity Regional Water District

Lake Ralph Hall Reservoir

$44,680,000

West Harris County Regional Water Authority

2nd Source Transmission Line (96"), Northeast Water Purification Plant Expansion, Internal Distribution System

$812,140,000

TOTAL

$3,899,485,000

www.tawwa.org

$953,405,000 $82,105,000 $17,100,000

TEXASh2o SUMMER 2015 | 13 |

| customer service workshop |

TAWWA Customer Service Workshop 2015

J

oin TAWWA for its annual Customer Service Workshop, October 8 and 9 in Tyler. Customer Service Continuing Educations hours have been requested. The workshop is $150; checks and credit cards are accepted.

The workshop will feature three breakout workshop sessions, guest speakers, open forum discussions and games and door prizes.

The workshop will be held at the Holiday Inn Select, 5701 S. Broadway, Tyler, TX 75703. Hotel reservations can be made at 903-561-5800.

To register, for more information and to see the workshop agenda, go to www.tawwa.org.

For questions, contact Gina Hickman at 817-7887037 or ghickman@hursttx.gov.

| 14 | SUMMER 2015 TEXASh2o

WORKSHOP SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE DAY 1: October 8 8-8:30 am: Registration 8:30-8:45 am: Greeting/Overview 8:45-9:20 am: Video Presentation 9:20-9:30 am: Break 9:30-10:15 am: Game/Exercise 10:15-11:15 am: Becoming a Customer Service Superstar!

11:15-11:30 am: Break 11:30-12 pm: Mayor Martin Heines 12-1 pm: Lunch Provided 1-5:15 pm: Group Sessions • Teamwork & Communication • Reducing Stress in the Workplace • Be Your Customer’s Hero

DAY 2: October 9 8:15-8:30 am: Welcome Back!

Door prizes!

8:30-9:15 am: Team Building Exercise 9:15-10:15 am: Cust. Service Presentation 10:15-10:30 am: Break 10:30-11:30 am: Open Forum 11:30-11:45 am: Evaluation/ Wrap up

www.tawwa.org

| nct casino night |

Official Notice

TAWWA North Central Texas Chapter

Texas Section AWWA Fall Board Meeting

CASINO NIGHT

Thursday, November 5, 2015 10 am-3 pm Pfluger Hall 203-B East Pecan Street Pflugerville, TX 78660 Direct questions to Mike Howe at mikehowe@tawwa.org

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Thursday, September 10 The Museum of Geometric and MADI Art - Dallas Doors open at 6:30 pm $35 for food and fun Sponsorships available All proceeds benefit Water For People!

Register at www.texaswater.org

TEXASh2o SUMMER 2015 | 15 |

| nct drinking water seminar |

14th Annual North Central Texas Chapter of

TEXAS AWWA DRINKING WATER SEMINAR

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| cac fall seminar |

TAWWA Capital Area Chapter Fall Seminar

T

he Capital Area Chapter of TAWWA will be holding its annual seminar on October 28 at the Hornsby Bend Environmental Research Center at 2210 South FM 973. Registration is $70 in advance, $80 (cash or check only) at the door. There is also a discounted student/retiree rate of $25. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.

While the Central Texas Region is recovering from the multi-year drought thanks to this year’s El Niño weather pattern, municipalities must continue delivering potable water to their customers as efficiently as possible. This year’s seminar theme is “Utility Resilience and Sustainability,” and we’re looking forward to presentations that cover the following topics: • Water loss programs and conservation efforts • Alternative water supplies and new technologies,

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Register today at www.tawwa.org. For questions, contact Joe Hoepken at joe.hoepken@austintexas.gov or 512-972-1168.

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| el paso water utilities |

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12 | el paso water utilities my jacket down to my long sleeve shirt, my host for the day, Christina Montoya, the vice president of marketing and communication at El Paso Water Utilities, drove John Balliew, President and CEO of El me out to the Paso Water Utilities, gives a tour of the Roberto Bustanew Advanced Water Purification Facility. mante Wastewater Treatment Plant in the Mission Valley to join the tour. The AWPF is located adjacent to the Bustamante plant. A small group of Arcadis staff, including Fred Blumberg and Arcadis Project Manager Sanann Villalobos, along with John Balliew, President and CEO of El Paso Water Utilities, were already on hand.

The pilot plant consists of an outside system pumping and holding highly treated wastewater from the Bustamante facility, the only unallocated treated wastewater available from any of El Paso’s facilities.

Inside the large and very warm structure, the pilot testing process is ongoing to determine which is the optimum type of membrane treatment type and size to achieve the highest quality purified water. The ultimate goal is to use 100% of the treated wastewater from the Bustamante facility for processing through the AWPF. After treatment, the purified water will be blended with other treated drinking water in the El Paso system, including waters from the Kay Bailey Hutchison Desalination Plant, located in another part of El Paso’s vast and growing community.

During this entire development process, El Paso has assembled an independent advisory panel of health professionals, scientists and engi-

| 18 | SUMMER 2015 TEXASh2o

neers to advise them on regulations, plant design, pilot plant data and public outreach.

And of course, TCEQ is monitoring the process as it goes on. As we all know, doing these projects right the first time is key.

After the tour, I had the opportunity to do an interview with one of the local television stations, and then we were off to the Kay Bailey Hutchison plant to take another quick tour. I had always wanted to see this facility up close. It is large and compact at the same time, and impressive in its seemingly simple operation of a very complex system.

Plus, the outstanding El Paso Water Utilities Tech2O Education Center is co-located with the plant.

I have been an advocate for using purified water for some time and have watched Big Spring and Wichita Falls lead the way. After doing some significant inquires around the country, it was soon evident to me that here in Texas, we are leading the way in making these projects happen, the right way. El Paso is doing the same and plans to be online in 2019 or 2020.

If you want more information, check out this link on their website: http://www.epwu.org/water/ purified_water.html. Also, see the recently published Direct Potable Resource Documents published by the Texas Water Development Board (scroll down to the Final Reports section): http://www.twdb.texas.gov/ innovativewater/reuse/projects/directpotable.

And, as far as that old adage about it being a "dry heat?" Forget that — it was hot!

www.tawwa.org

| letter from the section chair |

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 | letter from the section chair is the potential to create a clearinghouse for other Sections to use that training. Rather than each Section duplicating efforts, let’s share resources — A Path to One AWWA. Our own Education Division has undergone some transition in the last two years. The Division is divided up into five committees — Member Education, Partnership Development, K-12+ Education, Competitions and Consumer Outreach. Similar to this modeled clearinghouse we discussed at Summer Workshop, the Education Division is collecting handson materials that can be shared, so classroom teachers can show their students actual pieces and parts of what makes clean water.

At the Section level, we are constantly discussing how to provide value to your membership through education. We discuss partnering with other organizations, but we are always looking for the gap so that we are not reinventing the wheel or stepping on

someone else’s toes.

So here’s your challenge for the month.

If you are aware of a www.rjn.com gap where AWWA can • Flow Monitoring meet a need, please • Water Distribution System Design contact a Section • Hydraulic Modeling Officer or one of the • Construction Inspection chairs for the Educa• Construction Administration tion Division. If your • Wastewater Master Planning volunteering passion • Sanitary Sewer Evaluation Survey lends toward education, join one of the • Collection System Rehab Design education commit• New Sewer Improvements tees, or better yet get • Lift Station Design involved with your Dallas • Irving • Garland • Fort Worth Chapter Education Austin • San Antonio • Round Rock Committee. While I Civil Engineering Consultants really want your volunteer hours to stay with TAWWA, you could also volunteer for the Science Fair or Future Cities or be a mentor!

As we transition from summer to fall and the start of school, safe travels if you’re getting in that last minute vacation!!!

YOUR AD COULD BE HERE Advertise in TEXASh2o!

Call 512-251-8101 today! www.tawwa.org

TEXASh2o SUMMER 2015 | 19 |

| legislative recap |

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 | legislative recap 4, the landmark legislation to allow voters to set aside $2 billion to finance projects in the State Water Plan.

Senator Fraser was the lead Senate sponsor for that historic legislation.

“I think it’s significant that there was no major tweaking of PITTSBURG (2013’s) House Bill TANK & TOWER 4,” said TAWWA MAINTENANCE CO., INC. Legislative ComSAVE! mittee Chair We have a crew in Heather Cooke.

YOUR AREA! “That bill really Inspections Repair New & Used Tanks stood the test.”

Wet In Service Cleaning Relocation Elevated Dry Paint Erection Underground Cooke made her ROV Insulation Dismantles Ground Storage comments in a ROV inspections can be viewed on TV console TAWWA webcast during inspection & DVD provided. All inspections include bound reports, recommendations and cost June 22, the day estimates. after the deadline for Gov. Greg Vicky Caudill Abbott’s vetoes.

270-826-9000 Ext. 107 www.watertank.com Abbott vetoed a

bill that would have required state and county jails to comply with a local utility’s water conservation restrictions. “In his veto message, he said that if the state wants to require conservation, it should do so directly, from the Legislature to the jails,” Cooke observed. He also vetoed HB 2647 by Rep. Ashby that would have restricted a GCD’s ability to curtail groundwater used for power generation.

As the second most severe drought in Texas history wore on in early 2015, the Legislature looked at innovative ways to manage the water we do have.

Four bills passed dealing with various aspects of desalination. House Bill 2031 by Rep. Eddie Lucio III of Brownsville, and House Bill 4097 by Rep. Todd Hunter of Corpus Christi, dealt with permitting for marine desalination projects. “TCEQ is going to have to mesh those provisions together” in its rulemaking, Cooke said.

Rep. Lyle Larson of San Antonio was a prolific author of bills dealing with new approaches to water management. His House Bill 30 requires the TWDB to designate brackish groundwater zones in the state and estimate 30-50 year production capacity. A $2 million

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| legislative recap |

budget rider was included to help fund the effort.

Larson’s House Bill 655 is a broad piece of legislation dealing with aquifer storage and recovery (ASR). Under the bill, TCEQ’s revised rules will no longer require a pilot project, and groundwater conservation district permitting will only be required if withdrawals exceed injections.

“It was one of the major water achievements of the session,” Cooke said. “This is going to be exciting to watch.”

Groundwater was a hot topic at the Legislature.

Cooke said, “This, I would say, has been a groundwater session.”

Lucio’s HB1232 requires the TWDB to study quality and quantity of groundwater in the state and prepare mapping by December 2016. SB 854 by Zaffirini provides for automatic renewals of groundwater permits under certain conditions. Keffer’s HB 200 revised the DFC appeal process, and HB2767 tweaked powers of groundwater conservation districts.

Another approach to water use was House Bill 1902

by Rep. Donna Howard of Austin. The bill expanded the uses of “graywater” and other on-site water sources.

Cooke said that the bill gave TCEQ more flexibility on requiring on-site tanks for graywater systems. The tank requirement had been a stumbling block for some consumers and is expected to be revised through upcoming rule revisions by TCEQ. Conservation was also advanced with the passage of SB 1356 by Hinojosa that authorizes an annual sales tax holiday for WaterSense appliances, rainwater harvesting equipment and other conservation products.

The Water Conservation Advisory Council will now be developing legislative recommendations, as directed by SB 551 by Seliger.

On the management side, the Legislature fine-tuned the 2013 transfer of rate oversight from TCEQ to the Public Utility Commission with SB1148 by Sen. Kirk Watson of Austin.

And the Legislature also passed SB 523 by Birdwell/ Keffer requiring river authorities to submit to the same “sunset” re-evaluation performed for other state agencies. Unlike most state agencies, though, the river authorities cannot be abolished.

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Sam Godfrey 1308 Daytona Drive Austin, TX 78733 Office/Fax: 512-263-7043 Mobile:512-751-5325 sgodfrey@samco-leakservice.com

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TEXASh2o SUMMER 2015 | 21 |

| tceq update |

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 | tceq update mostly run by cities, and another 2,400 noncommunity systems such as those at schools, churches and businesses.

In her leadership role, Brookins is supported by Gary Chauvin, manager of the Public Drinking Water Section.

Brookins assumed her position in water supply in 2010, having already worked with TCEQ programs in Clean Rivers and Nonpoint Source. She was also in the Office of Compliance and Enforcement and the Remediation Division. She says this variety of experience exposed her to enforcement actions and the major air, water and waste programs — not to mention the agency’s response to five natural disasters, including hurricanes.

Before arriving at the TCEQ in 1990, Brookins owned her own computer company and had managed 13 municipal utility districts. She has a Bachelor of Business Administration from Southwest Texas State University.

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Chauvin has been with the Public Drinking Water Section for 10 years and was named manager in 2014.

Previously, as a compliance officer in the Surface Water Treatment Rule Program, he provided technical assistance and performed compliance activities for treatment plants. Before joining the TCEQ, he worked in hydrological research, data analysis and environmental science. Chauvin received a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Texas and a master’s in environmental science from the University of Idaho.

During the prolonged dry spell, Brookins and Chauvin helped guide the TCEQ’s Drought Team, a group of media experts from across the agency assembled to address the worst of the drought problems. The duo also provided technical assistance and funding sources for systems in trouble, and helped search for alternative sources of water supply.

At the urging of the Legislature, the TCEQ has been pursuing alternative water supply options, such as desalination and water reuse.

Two key targets are brackish water and seawater, Brookins says. To streamline approval of these treatment facilities, the TCEQ is allowing the use of computer modeling as an alternative to on-site pilot studies for approval of groundwater desalination systems. So far the agency has approved five projects using this process. Also the agency has streamlined the construction approval process for brackish desalination.

For entities wanting to implement direct potable reuse, the TCEQ has done considerable research into pathogen and contaminant treatment, she says, so that water-stressed systems can use raw water sources, such as effluent, for not only farming and industrial uses, but as purified water from home taps. The City of

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| 22 | SUMMER 2015 TEXASh2o

www.tawwa.org

| tceq update |

Wichita Falls and the Colorado River Municipal Water District are two recent projects.

One ongoing challenge for local water systems is dealing with federal drinking water regulations, which have been numerous in recent years. Brookins said as technologies improve, additional regulations might have to be enacted to safeguard against potential health effects. This drives up costs for local systems, many of which already operate with aging infrastructure.

“The financial impacts of meeting regulatory requirements are a continuing issue for many communities,” she says. Yet the agency must remind systems of the importance of regular equipment maintenance and repairs to avoid operational failures that could threaten public health.

Looking to the future, the TCEQ faces another major challenge — how to deliver water throughout a fastgrowing state. Projections are the population will soar by 85 percent from 2010 to 2060. During that time, demands on Texas water suppliers are expected to grow by an estimated 22 percent.

Based on these projections, Brooks said the TCEQ is working with public water systems on alternative water sources, such as new surface water reservoirs and aquifer storage and recovery, as well as groundwater and seawater desalination and potable reuse.

Brookins says her five-year tenure in Water Supply, which overlapped with the statewide drought of 20102015, has been a learning experience. “There have been a lot of lessons learned throughout all of this. It’s been eye opening for all of us,” she says. “Despite the rain, lots of water systems still don’t have full reservoirs or aquifers. Frankly we still need to act like we’re in a drought.”

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TEXASh2o SUMMER 2015 | 23 |

| new members |

TAWWA Welcomes New Members Joining June 1 – August 14, 2015 Niklas Adam Houston, TX

Robin Fishburn Houston, TX

Karen L. Guz San Antonio, TX

Jack McDonald Houston, TX

Alan Phillips West Lake Hills, TX

Gabe Smith Austin, TX

Hunter Adams Wichita Falls, TX

Carla Franco Monahans, TX

Rusty Holcomb Montalba, TX

Rick Moffait Spring, TX

Kent Power San Antonio, TX

Sonny Smoak Spring, TX

Roy O. Barnes Houston, TX

Amanda Frazier San Antonio, TX

Aaron Noah Horvitz Houston, TX

Andrew R. Moore Celina, TX

Calvin Prosen Port Arthur, TX

Mitchel Bartolo Austin, TX

Marvin Fuller Wylie, TX

Shelia Johnson Houston, TX

Victor Moussallem Houston, TX

Ryan Pryor Rosebud, TX

Southern Montgomery County MUD Spring, TX

Michelle Brown El Paso, TX

Eric Garcia Austin, TX

Steve Junot Waco, TX

Mark Nelson Dallas, TX

Elizabeth Rentschlar Bryan, TX

Brushy Creek WSC Montalba, TX

Evan Ged Dallas, TX

Amin Kiaghadi Houston, TX

Matt Nelson Austin, TX

Pam Reynolds Houston, TX

Joan Bryant San Antonio, TX

Isabella Marie Gee Austin, TX

Soyoon Kum Austin, TX

Nevada WSC Nevada, TX

Michael Rice Dallas, TX

William Byland Houston, TX

Billy George Wylie, TX

Stephen Laskowski Stockdale, TX

Patrick Nicklen Wylie, TX

Patricia Rinehart Pflugerville, TX

Jose M. De Leon Jr. Spring, TX

Ethan R. George San Angelo, TX

Marsh Lavenue Austin, TX

Luke Ocampo Dallas, TX

Angela Rivera San Antonio, TX

Michael Smallwood English Austin, TX

Gary Gold Austin, TX

Darren Leiker Wichita Falls, TX

Joseph Olabode Dallas, TX

Dennis Rodriguez Houston, TX

Sue Gomez Waco, TX

Amy Mallett Alvin, TX

William Oldham Burleson, TX

Manual Rodriguez Dallas, TX

Howard Guidry New Braunfels, TX

Cody May Crowley, TX

Kevin Osborne Austin, TX

Michael Roemer Dallas, TX

Jeffrey Parent Southlake, TX

Johnny Rudisill Nevada, TX

Karen Parker Rosebud, TX

Noel Ruiz Dallas, TX

Nathali Parker Rosebud, TX

Raul M. Sandoval Grand Prairie, TX

Jake Parsons Cedar Park, TX

Al Shealey Fort Worth, TX

Ron Patel Dallas, TX

Richard Sheehan Wylie, TX

Richard Peasley Wylie, TX

Jim Shirley Wylie, TX

Jeff Peters Spring, TX

Amy Shoebotham Houston, TX

Andrea Fernandez Dallas, TX William Cristian Fischer Weatherford, TX

| 24 | SUMMER 2015 TEXASh2o

Amy Stonaker Houston, TX Margarita Takou Arlington, TX Nick Taylor Brady, TX Ian Patrick Toohey Austin, TX Erik Tschanz Houston, TX Francisco Urueta Las Cruces, NM Francisco Valdes The Woodlands, TX Pamela Alejandra Varela Dallas, TX Melissa Vasquez El Paso, TX David Wallace Windcrest, TX Sylvia Wang Houston, TX Tonya Warren DeSoto, TX Kelly W. Wood Fort Worth, TX Robert Young Ben Wheeler, TX Yaofang Zhang Houston, TX

www.tawwa.org

| cac pints for people |

SAVE the DATE! Texas Water 2016 April 19-22, 2016 Fort Worth, Texas Abstract submittal to open soon — keep an eye on your email for more information

www.tawwa.org

TAWWA Capital Area Chapter

PINTS FOR PEOPLE Benefitting Water For People Wednesday, October 14 Austin Beerworks 6-8 pm $25 Entry Or become a Pint, Growler or Keg Sponsor!

Register at www.texaswater.org

TEXASh2o SUMMER 2015 | 25 |

| executive director report |

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 | executive director report colleagues may unfortunately be right. "Today may be the first day of the next drought."

Historically, we have been fooled before, and droughts have persisted even after powerful rains. We all should be glad reservoirs are full, as we have some relief from draconian water restrictions. But this is not the time to let down our guard, our conservation efforts or the messaging to customers. After all, this is Texas, and water shortages and drought are part of our storied history. And don't forget, there are more Texans than ever, so "every drop, everyday, everywhere" is more meaningful and precious than ever before. But, you knew that.

Scholarship I need your help. Through the years, the Texas Section has awarded more than $400,000 in scholarships to deserving high school graduates, current undergraduate and graduate students and adults returning to school. Currently we fund 12 to 15 $2,000 scholarships each year. Part of these funds come from our return

on a substantial scholarship investment fund, proceeds from our annual golf tournament at Texas Water, our chapters, as well as direct donations from members.

Plus, we receive funds through the Texas Higher Education Development Board's sponsorship of our unique Water Conservation License Plate. Recently, we received a check for nearly $2,000 as our proceeds from the sales of the license plate. That's good but it needs to be much better. I need you all to buy the license plate.

It only costs an additional $30 more each year, and after the state DVM takes $17, we get the balance of roughly $23 per plate. Everyone has to license their car and most of us have more than one vehicle. The math is easy. We have about 3,500 members. If half of you added the $30 each year to purchase the plate for one car, we could net over $30,000 per year. That would be 15 more scholarships each year. And, assuming you renewed your plate every year, that number would be every year. And here is a fun fact: No other state has a conservation license plate, and ours was designed by our own Daniel Nix from Wichita Falls.

This year we have over 55 applications for scholarships. I promise you that more than half of them are well qualified. But some will not be funded because we don't have sufficient funds. Your $30 extra multiplied by just half our members WILL make a difference. And, as tuition rises, and more of you purchase the license plate, we could make larger awards to deserving students. This can be a game changer, and $30 is an easy way to be part of making a huge difference.

Go to www.conservetexaswater.org and purchase one now. You don't have to wait until you renew your license plate to make this change.

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| 26 | SUMMER 2015 TEXASh2o

www.tawwa.org

| calendar |

What’s Happening Across Texas DATE

ACTIVITY

TIME

LOCATION

INFORMATION

SEPT 10

NCT Casino Night

6:30 pm

Museum of Geometric & MADI Art Dallas, Texas

www.tawwa.org

OCT 8 & 9

TAWWA Customer Service Workshop

8 am

Holiday Inn Select Tyler, Texas

www.tawwa.org

OCT 14

CAC Pints for People

6 pm

Austin Beerworks Austin, Texas

www.tawwa.org

OCT 23

14th NCT Drinking Water Seminar

8 am

Petroleum Club of Fort Worth Fort Worth, Texas

www.tawwa.org

OCT 28

CAC Fall Seminar

TBD

Hornsby Bend Enviro Research Center Austin, Texas

www.tawwa.org

Want to share your event with the Texas water community?

Contact Mike Howe, 512-238-9292 or mikehowe@tawwa.org.

Check the Section’s website, www.tawwa.org, for the latest information on Section activities.

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TEXASh2o SUMMER 2015 | 27 |

TEXASh2o

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