Marble Falls secures new water supply

Marble Falls City Council recently accepted transfer of a deed from the Ellison Roper Land Corporation and other parties to the city, effectively giving Marble Falls residents access to an additional groundwater resource.

Council members approved the transfer during its May 7 meeting.

Weeks before the meeting, city staff conducted many hours of detailed environmental research.

“They (staffers) methodically analyzed data and reports and the operations and practices of other jurisdictions before the council decided,” Deputy City Manager Caleb Kraenzel told The Highlander.

In fact, the recent deed transfer follows the city acquisition last December of the Capstone Ranch groundwater system, near CR 401 and FM 2147.

Now, city officials reckon that there will be multiple sources for Marble Falls water.

“The city’s water supply had been 100% surface water from Lake Marble Falls, and now, we have groundwater, too, as a water source,” Kraenzel said.

Indeed, many cities across Texas rely on groundwater – instead of surface water – as their primary source of water supply, he added.

“When compared to surface water retrieval, treatment and distribution, groundwater is substantially more cost effective to retrieve, treat and distribute to customers,” Kraenzel said.

Moreover, more groundwater use promotes the Marble Falls pattern of continuous growth, he added.

“One of our many community goals is resiliency,” Kraenzel said.

"Diversification of our water supply to two sources (ground and surface water) versus one source (surface water) is a step toward that goal.”