Why can’t the three cities partner with the City of Austin in its new intake structure to be built near the Oasis for Water Treatment Plant 4 (WTP 4)?
The BCRUA had seriously considered such a partnership. While it is true there could be an initial cost savings in sharing an intake structure, the cost of transporting the water from that site to the new treatment plant in Cedar Park is prohibitive and not a responsible use of taxpayer dollars. Preliminary estimates indicate the additional expense could be in excess of $200 million. Environmental concerns are another major obstacle since the pipeline would need to cross the protected habitat of the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve to serve the existing Cedar Park and Leander plants. A portion of this route has already been studied extensively and ruled out. Other factors negating a partnership include differing project schedules, traffic disruptions, and other impacts to residents and businesses.
