Why can’t the cities get additional water from other sources, like aquifers?
The City of Round Rock currently obtains its water supply from groundwater from the Edwards Aquifer and from contracts with the Brazos River Authority (BRA) for water from Lake Georgetown and Stillhouse Hollow Reservoir. Round Rock investigated additional water supply options in 2005. The alternative water sources included Lake Travis, additional water from BRA reservoirs, and three private groundwater proposals. Several combinations of options were investigated. The three most economical options were to draw water from Lake Travis in partnership with the City of Cedar Park. These three options resulted in annual costs that ranged from $48 million to $78 million less than the least expensive groundwater proposal. Furthermore, BRA is unable to supply enough water to meet all of Round Rock’s future needs, mandating the need for a supplemental source. This study resulted in the city’s current plan to pursue Lake Travis as a new water source.The State of Texas has been looking into ways to
