HomeMy WebLinkAboutK_DevPlan_UtilitiesGeorgetown
UTILITIES
The Utilities Element of the Development Plan provides guidance to the City
Council regarding the need, timing, and location of City- provided utility
improvements. In order to ensure the equitable assignment of the costs of
providing those utilities, guidelines me also provided for the development of a
utilities extension policy. The Ends and Means of this Plan are concerned with the
major public and private utility systems that impact development, including water,
wastewater, electric, stormwater drainage, solid waste, and telecommunications
systems. The water and wastewater systems are dealt with in greater detail because
they are elements of the impact analysis, as described in the land Intensity Element
of the Plan. The Utilities Element describes specific programs, projects, criteria,
and guidelines for inclusion in the Annual Operating Plan.
FUTURE WATER AND WASTEWATER SYSTEM MAPS
Exhibits 14 and 15 depict the Future Water and Wastewater System Maps.
These maps describe the utility systems necessary to support the programmed
intensities depicted by the Intensity Map. Included on the Future Water System
Map are those elements of the existing water system that will continue to be
necessary throughout the planning period, including water lines by size, water
tanks, and the water treatment plants, The future water lines and tanks that will
be needed to serve new development are also shown. The Future Wastewater
System Map includes the relevant elements of the existing system including gravity
lines, force mains, lift stations, and the wastewater treatment plant. Future gravity
lines, force mains, and treatment plants are also shown. The future water and
wastewater lines are not shown by size because they are meant to be schematic
depictions of the complete systems necessary to support full build -out of the Future
Intensity Map. The future service area for these utilities is defined as the Future
Urban Area. This is the area within which the City of Georgetown will provide
water and wastewater services during the planning period.
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As described in detail in the Iand Intensity Element, construction of the
utilities systems is expected to occur in an incremental fashion as demanded by the
actual pace and type of growth that occurs in any particular section of the
community. The need for improvements to the water and wastewater systems will
be monitored by IMAGE. The size of future lines necessary to support new
developments will be determined at the time that utility extensions are proposed.
Planning Department review of development proposals will use the resources
available through IMAGE to determine whether or not the project can be supported
by the existing utility systems. If existing or committed capacities are insufficient
to accommodate the projected demands of the proposed development,
or if they are nonexistent in that location altogether, staff will be able to determine
the line size necessary on the basis of demands. It will then be a policy decision,
made by the City Council, whether to require that the new line be built to
accommodate only the proposed development, or whether to require an oversized
line in anticipation of subsequent, additional development. Similarly, the
matter of who pays for the construction of the future utility system is a policy
decision to be made by the City Council.
The Future Utility System Maps, therefore, represent the guidelines for
development of water and wastewater systems to accommodate the Intensity Map.
They do not represent a mandate for construction of utility systems over the
planning period. Construction of utility lines should proceed in support of actual
and desired growth patterns and should be designed and financed in accordance
with the City Council utility extension policy.
The City Council's utility extension policy will provide significant guidance for
the construction of water and wastewater systems to serve new growth throughout
the community. Some of the key issues which must be resolved in order to
develop an equitable, consistent policy include:
who should pay for utility line extensions;
should improvements/extensions to the utility systems be made to
accommodate only known demands, or should lines be oversized to
meet future needs;
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GEORGETOWN CENTURY PLAN 0 12 Al LINE ®36 IN LINE
FUTURE WATER SYSTEM MAP
El 14 IN LINE ® FUTURE LINE
0 4000 12000 El 16 IN LINE
��� ® 16 IN LINE ❑N PLANTS TANKS
North 1 INCH = 4000 FEET
® 20 IN LINE
LE(
EXHIBIT 15
GEORGETOWN CENTURY PLAN
FUTURE WASTEWATER SYSTEM MAP
END
EXISTING GRAVITY LINE
EXISTING FORCE MAIN
FUTURE GRAVITY LINE
FUTURE FORCE MAIN
0 5000 15000
® PLANTS /LIFT STATIONS
North 1 INCH = 5000 FEET
iINGS
Ni
Georgetown
- if lines are oversized, how many years of development should they
be designed to accommodate;
- how, if at all, should reimbursements for oversizing be made; and
- should utility extensions be used to give certain areas of the
community, or certain land use types/intensides priority for
development over others.
In addition to these unresolved issues, the Utilities Sub -Group of the Century
Plan Worldng Group recommended that policies such as the following be adopted
for the extension of water and wastewater services:
- undeveloped land which is already served by water and
wastewater service should have priority for development;
- water and wastewater service should be extended to newly
developing areas together;
- priorities for extending utilities should be based on the
following formula:
1st Priority - favor employment uses over residen-
tial and service uses
2nd Priority - concentrate resources on development
of southeast quadrant
3rd Priority - concentrate resources on development
of northwest quadrant
- infill areas (vacant areas between developed areas) should be
given highest priority, followed by areas contiguous to
existing serviced properties. Areas beyond the City's existing
serviced areas should he provided service on a negotiated
basis.
The Utilities Sub -Group further recommended that, in general, the City should
fund utility improvements when required to serve an area targeted for
public/private coordinated development; to upgrade existing service or correct an
existing deficiency; and /or to provide capacity for public improvements and
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facilities. Utility improvements should be made by the developer when the
proposed land use or development location is not prioritized /programmed by the
Plan; and /or the improvement is required to provide capacity for
Council- approved Plan amendments. The City's share of future capital
improvements to the water and wastewater systems should be funded from a
percentage of the utility rates which is allocated to a utility capital improvements
fund.
Consideration and resolution of all of these policy issues will enable the City
Council to develop utility systems in a manner that accommodates a desirable level
of growth throughout the City without imposing an uneven burden on either the
public or the private sectors. This policy should be prepared as soon as possible
and adopted as an amendment the Utilities Element of the Development Plan.
WATER SYSTEM GULDELLNFS
Without careful management and planning, the availability of water could
become a limiting factor in the City's ability to grow. The availability of water is
the result of both water supply and water treatment. The City's current water
supply comes from ground water drawn out of the Edwards Aquifer and surface
water from Lake Georgetown. An estimated three million gallons per day (MGD)
of ground water can be reliably planned for during drought periods, and up to five
MGD during periods of normal rainfall. The City has acquired the rights to six
MGD of water from Lake Georgetown, and has negotiated with the Brazos River
Authority for nearly five MGD of water from Lake Stillbouse Hollow in Bell
County. Until facilities are constructed to transport the Lake Stillhouse Hollow
water to Georgetown., it will not be available for use. From these three sources -
ground water,. Lake Georgetown, and Lake Stillhouse Hollow - Georgetown's total
known supply of water equals nearly 14 MGD. Georgetown has the ability to treat
up to 12 MGD of water at its two water treatment plants, a six MGD ground water
treatment plant in San Gabriel Park and a six MGD lake water treatment plant at
Lake Georgetown.
Exhibit 16 projects water needs on the basis of population using data from both
the Socio - Economic and Utilities Base Studies. The population projections are
based on the high range projections included in the Socio - Economic Base Study.
As recommended in A Comprehensive Strategy for Water Planning in the City of
Georgetown, Texas by Michael Lauer, the 1990 projection has been modified to
account for extra- territorialjurisdicdon population that is known to be within the
water service area.
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Georgetown
Including the water from Lake Stillhouse Hollow, which must still be accessed,
the City will not exceed its total known water supply before 2010. However, the
water from Lake Stillhouse Hollow will become critical to Georgetown's ability to
meet water demands and provide for continued growth before 2010. As demands
for water increase and the City is able to add water from Lake Stillhouse Hollow
to its available supplies, it will also be necessary to expand the City's water
treatment capacity. Both the Lake and Park water treatment plants are expandable
to 12 MGD, and both can be efficiently expanded in three MGD phases. The
expansion of water treatment capacity will be determined on the basis of
engineering criteria.
EXHIBIT 16
Projected Water Needs
NOTES: MGD = million gallons per day
GPCD = gallons per capita per day, based on 1975 -1986 average
Estimates based on end -of -year population
SOURCE: Michael Lauer, A Comnreh nciv - Strat gy for Water Planning in
the City of. Georgetown Texas, December 1988.
Water conservation measures which reduce the per capita consumption of water
will enable the City to mcet growing demands for water with the existing supplies
for a longer period of time. Recommendations for water conservation measures
can be found in Lauer (1988) and the Georgetown Regional Wastewater
Planning Study conducted by Wallace, Winkler, and Rice, Inc. (1989).
Currently, the level of water service is not adequate in some parts of the City,
as demonstrated by insufficient pressure and volume for foe fighting. It is
important that adequate water pressure and volume be available to all customers
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Service Area
Population
Average
Water Use
Year
Projections
MGD
GPCD
1990
19,500
4.20
215
1995
22,000
4.73
215
2000
28,000
6.03
215
2005
37,000
7.96
215
2010
54,000
11.62
215
NOTES: MGD = million gallons per day
GPCD = gallons per capita per day, based on 1975 -1986 average
Estimates based on end -of -year population
SOURCE: Michael Lauer, A Comnreh nciv - Strat gy for Water Planning in
the City of. Georgetown Texas, December 1988.
Water conservation measures which reduce the per capita consumption of water
will enable the City to mcet growing demands for water with the existing supplies
for a longer period of time. Recommendations for water conservation measures
can be found in Lauer (1988) and the Georgetown Regional Wastewater
Planning Study conducted by Wallace, Winkler, and Rice, Inc. (1989).
Currently, the level of water service is not adequate in some parts of the City,
as demonstrated by insufficient pressure and volume for foe fighting. It is
important that adequate water pressure and volume be available to all customers
M-1
Geo`Frgetown
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throughout the water service area. In order to accomplish this, the Texas
Department of Health's standards and criteria for water storage and pressure and
the State Board of Insurance's Fire flow and facility spacing standards should be
established as minimum level of service standards. These standards include:
Water Pressure:
- 750 gallons per minute (GPM) in all residential areas (up to
four- plexes);
- 1500 GPM in all commercial or multifamily areas;
- 3000 GPM in all industrial areas;
- 35 pounds per square inch (PSI) adequate during
maximum -hour flow;
- 30 PSI marginal during maximum -hour flow; and
- 20 PSI marginal during maximum -hour plus fire flow.
Water Storage:
- total storage capacity of 200 gallons per connection with a
maximum of five (5) million gallons inquired;
- covered clear well storage or ground storage of 25 percent
of the total storage capacity; elevated storage of 200 gallons
per connection may be substituted for ground storage; and
- pressure maintenance facilities for elevated storage of 100
gallons per connection, with a maximum of five (5) million
gallons required.
System Capacity:
- treatment plant capacity of 0.6 GPM per connection under
normal rated design capacity; and
- well capacity for two or more wells of 0.6 GPM per
connection.
A routine maintenance program should be established to maintain the level of
service for the water system. This program will include scheduled routine
maintenance for all distribution lines, targeting the distribution lines in the older
sections of the City.
The Utilities Base Study identified a problem with water system losses.
Identifiable sources of water loss from unmetered demand include leakage, flushing
of lines, illegal taps, City uses, and fire fighting. The City began metering its use
of water in the City parks during the first quarter of 1988. over time, this will
help to reduce some of the water loss due to unmetered demand. Some losses are
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Georgetown DEynopMENTPLAN
also attributable to the Fire Department, as their use is measured in the City only.
However, loss due to fire fighting amounts to an average of less than one -half
million gallons per year and is insignificant compared to total water losses.
On -going monitoring of water use and inspection of distribution lines are
recommended to help resolve the problem of water system losses.
The Century Plan - Policy Plan includes a recommended Means that the City
examine the feasibility of privatizing the water utility. After further examination,
the Utilities Element does not recommend privatization of the water service at this
time.. The need to maintain control over the quality of water service, the City's
continuing efforts to provide a self- sufficient water service in which revenues cover
costs, and the City's use of water as one of the allocatable resources for IMAGE
all outweigh the need for considering privatization at this time. If privatization of
the water service is considered in the future, the City should conduct a study of
cities of similar size that have privatized their water systems, and weigh the costs
and benefits of their experiences.
Finally, the City should participate in establishing an underground water district
to provide additional protection to underground water resources. The City should
provide leadership and active participation in establishing this district, which
should include other affected entities such as Williamson County and the Jonah
Water Supply Corporation.
WASTEWATER SYSTEM GUIDELINES
Wastewater collection and treatment facilities must be available in order for
environmentally sound development to occur. Septic systems are adequate only for
low density residential uses. The level of wastewater service is primarily
dependent on the amount of infiltration and enfiltration which occurs in the system.
Infiltration is caused by cracked or leaking collection lines and manhole lids which
allow rainwater, drainage, or groundwater to seep into the pipes. This water mixes
with the wastewater and must be treated, thereby adding to the cost of operating
the system. Exfrltration, on the other hand, is caused when untreated wastewater
leaks out of broken or leaking pipes which can potentially contaminate the
groundwater. In order to prevent these and other potential environmental
problems, an adequate wastewater service should provide for;
sufficient pipe capacity to accommodate the existing and
committed intensities;
no or few leaks and spills;
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Georgetown
no backups in lines;
no gas formation; and
no hard to treat effluents in the system.
The Three Year Wastewater Collection System Maintenance and
Rehabilitation Analysis (1987) conducted by Gutierrez, Smouse, Wilmut and
Associates, Inc. identified specific needs for upgrade, repair, and replacement of
the existing wastewater lines. Repair of the most deteriorated lines should be
scheduled, including improvements to lines over the Edwards Aquifer, in order to
comply with inquired operating conditions mandated by the State Edwards Aquifer
Rules.
A percentage of wastewater revenues should be used to establish a utility capital
improvements fund and appropriated annually for the purpose of alleviating
specific wastewater system deficiencies. This amount must be adequate to
address the problems identified by the Gutierrez Study programmed through a
10 -year CIP, with a routine maintenance program established thereafter.
GUIDELINES FOR OTHER UT Lrry SERVICES
In addition to the water and wastewater systems, the City has varying degrees
of responsibility for several additional utility systems. Those systems are described
in this section, along with recommendations for their improvement and operation.
Electric. The service area for the electric utility is regulated by the State Public
Utilities Commission (PUC). The City of Georgetown, Texas Utilities, and
Pedernales Electric Cooperative provide joint electric service within the
Georgetown service area. The City should work towards ensuring that our future
electric service area includes the existing PUC- designated service area, plus a
proposed area west of the existing area and north of State Highway 29 (generally
the Wood Ranch area). Privatization of the electric utility is not recommended as
it is currently the only self- supporting utility operated by the City.
Privatization may be explored when it can be shown that another entity can provide
the same or better level of service at a lower cost. In the meantime, however, the
City should promote LCRA energy conservation programs which are available to
individual customers in order to help delay and /or forgo expenditures needed to
provide additional capacity, and to extend the life of existing energy resources.
The recommended level of electric service should permit no interruptions in
service exceeding one hour per customer per year, and provide sufficient power for
a variety of users' needs, especially in the newly developing areas of the City.
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Georgetown
TEXAS
Currently, the City's electric service has the following needs:
- reduce distribution system losses;
- provide support for future growth in all parts of the system;
- upgrade the electrical system serving the area west of IH35
These needs should be addressed when it can be shown that the cost of
improvements will he recouped by decreased costs and/or increased revenues. To
facilitate these improvements, funds should be allocated to the CIP from utility
revenues.
Finally, the electric utility distribution system and the existing and
programmed demands on it should become another element of the IMAGE
program. In this way, the City will be better able to monitor improvement needs
and allocate resources to ensure projected demands on the electric system are met
in a timely and efficient manner.
Stormwarer Druiwge. Several specific programs are recommended to improve
the stormwater drainage system throughout Georgetown. These programs will
begin to consolidate the provision of stormwater drainage services into a
revenue - generating City service. House Bill 1567, passed by the 1989 session of
the State Legislature, permits cities to establish municipal drainage systems as a
public utility and assess drainage fees. These fees can be used for the construction
and operation of any structure or facility that is used to draw off, carry away,
collect, store, or treat surface water. The City should investigate the feasibility of
establishing such a funding mechanism for the purpose of a stormwater drainage
utility. The service area for provision of this service will be tied to the City limits
and it will expand with the City limits. In addition, the City's stormwater drainage
system should become an element of the IMAGE program. This should include
the input of the natural and manmade elements of the drainage system along with
estimates of the demands on the system created by existing and programmed
development.
An adequate level of service for stormwater drainage should be defined as
safety from flooding; no episodes of standing water after rainfall; no visible
erosion into waterways, and maximum opportunities for recharge into the aquifer
through sinkholes, caves, and other natural features. In most rural areas and low
density residential areas adequate storm drainage can be provided through a system
of ditches and culverts. Higher intensity development requires additional drainage
facilities based on natural conditions, such as topography and soils absorption rates.
In order to achieve the recommended level of service, this Plan establishes the
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following Means:
- systematically reduce existing localized flooding;
- reduce exposure of private property to frequent nuisance
flooding;
- retain non - urbanized floodplains in such a condition as to
minimize interference with floodwater conveyance;
- ensure the operational efficiency of existing drainage
structures and related facilities;
- minimize erosion and sedimentation problems; and
- give consideration to the coordinated use of recreational
areas for stormwater runoff control.
A comprehensive, integrated drainage system can be realized with a
combination of techniques, including a detailed analysis of each watershed's effect
on the City; a routine inspection and periodic maintenance program; and
construction of on -site and regional detention facilities, such as channels, storm
drains, pipes, and culverts. Regulations should require that natural runoff
conditions be maintained as much as possible. Recommended programs also
include developing preventative and remedial programs based on identified needs
in targeted areas; preparing a detention plan to provide strategies for dealing with
the collection component of drainage (the area between the point of runoff and
existing /new detention ponds which require coordination between landowners and
the City); formulating comprehensive drainage policies which maximize the use of
natural waterways, address sedimentation and erosion problem areas, and provide
consistent drainage facility maintenance; and developing a mechanism to control
drainage in those areas of subdivisions where gaps in maintenance occur, such as
along rear fence lines.
Solid Waste. The future service area for solid waste collection, like stormwater
drainage, will be tied to the City limits and will expand as annexation occurs.
Privatization of the City's solid waste service was accomplished during Fiscal
Year 1988 -89, including privatization of residential collections, and
consolidation of commercial collection in order to better control the use of
dumpsters throughout the City.
In order to ensure the most efficient collection system, the City should
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encourage the private collector to investigate the cost savings to providing three
levels of garbage collection service. An example of such a system would provide
service to the Urbanized area twice a week, to the Urbanizing areas once a week,
and the Nan -Urban areas would not have collection service or, at best, would only
be provided with district dumpsters.
The City has implemented a closure plan for the City landfill. Under this plan
no dumping will be permitted at the landfill after August 1989, and it is expected
to be covered by 1992. Programs which the City should pursue in order to reduce
the amount and costs of solid waste disposal include recycling, composting, and a
bag ordinance.
Regional Transmission Lines. Regional transmission lines can be found
throughout the Georgetown Planning Area for electrical, telecommunications, and
gas services. These lines need to be protected from development and,
conversely, development should be protected from them. The Plan recommends
that the companies which control these transmission lines be included in the
development review process when developments are proposed near them. This
will promote improved identification of the locations of the existing and
planned lines and will minimize the potential adverse effects of proximity
to development.
Telecommunications. State law mandates that all counties with a population
greater than 120,000 implement a 911 emergency telephone service by 1995.
Furthermore, responses to a survey conducted in 1988 by Southwestern University
interns indicate that 86 percent of Georgetown area residents would support
provision of a 911 service. In order to meet these: needs, the City is currently
investigating participation in a regional 911 emergency telephone service with the
Capitol Area Planning Council. A basic 911 service is expected to be implemented
for the 863 and 869 exchanges by the end of the 1990 calendar year. Although the
basic service is relatively inexpensive to implement, its capabilities are limited.
Therefore, it is recommended that Georgetown become part of an enhanced
regional 911 system as soon as possible. A regional system would provide for the
automatic identification of the number and the location of the caller and would be
funded by a $0.50 /telephone /month charge.
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