WATER UPDATE 01.12.24
QUESTIONS
Contact: Mike Shook,
CIP Projects Manager – mshook@heathtx.com
January 9 City Council Meeting Video Link:
WATER METER INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS
(beginning at 1:42:26 in the meeting video)
The City Council approved a purchase and installment agreement for Phase 1 of the upgraded Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) program at its January 9th meeting with Hydro Pro Solutions and Master Meter (Harmony).
Phase 1 will provide the installation of 3,021 new water meters that will increase efficiency and responsiveness to customers by providing real-time data on utility consumption for accurate data measurement and more efficient billing. The program includes a customer portal that will provide citizens access to the data and enable both the City and users to identify issues more quickly to avoid costly problems.
The goal is to have the 3,021 meters installed and operating by June 2024. This represents 72 percent of the citywide system. The balance of 1,200 will be included in the next budget year of 2024-2025 and installed in 2025.
Water Study Update
(beginning at 10:47 in the meeting video; summary of preliminary findings at 37.30)
Richard Dormier of Freeman-Millican provided the second update on his firm’s study to identify additional sources of water and the necessary infrastructure for the City of Heath. Highlights included receiving a verbal agreement from the City of Rockwall to renew its contract with the City of Heath to provide 5.5 million gallons of water daily.
The City of Rockwall also gave its approval for the City of Heath to apply to the North Texas Water Municipal Water District (NTWMD) to be a direct customer of the water supplier and request additional water as a result. Documents to make this request were submitted to the NTWMWD on Friday, January 12th to begin the review and approval process.
Additionally, Freeman-Millican has conducted multiple meetings with other water suppliers in the region to explore options for obtaining more water, as the City of Heath will require 14-15 million gallons per day upon build-out of the projected 21,000 people. All sources express the desire to see proactive water conservation measures to reduce per capita usage. The City of Heath has among the highest per capita use trends in North Texas.
Building Moratorium Update
(beginning at 2:36:10 in the meeting video)
The City enacted a Residential and Commercial Building Moratorium on November 14, 2023, to provide a pause in construction for new ordinances supporting water conservation to be developed.
The goal was to avoid approving a significant amount of building permits before a new landscaping and irrigation ordinance supporting water conservation could be adopted.
Construction that was already in progress was not affected, and the ability to apply for an exemption was available. Since November 14th, thirty-three (33) exemptions have been requested. Of those, twenty-six (26) have been granted and seven (7) are in review.
At the January 9th City Council meeting, the City Attorney asked for direction on extending the moratorium as the process is lengthy. The schedule for approval of the new ordinance for landscaping and irrigation requirements is tight and will include several public hearings by the Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council. It is anticipated that the ordinance will be acted upon by the City Council at its April 23rd meeting.
The current moratorium expires on March 13th, which would require an extension of the moratorium. The council expressed that any extension should be as short as possible as the goal is not to prevent development but to develop additional water conservation measures.
MORATORIUM EXTENSION SCHEDULE
Jan. 9 Council Meeting
City Council update on the moratorium and discuss moratorium extension.
Jan. 23 Council Meeting
Moratorium extension ordinance presented to Council.
Feb. 11
Last day to publish newspaper notice of public hearing on the moratorium extension ordinance.
Feb 27 Council Meeting
conduct public hearing and potentially vote on the moratorium extension ordinance.
March 12 Council Meeting
Last regularly scheduled Council meeting to vote on the moratorium extension.
March 13
Moratorium expires if Council does not pass the extension.
MORE INFORMATION
Learn more about Water Wise. Learn more about the Building Moratorium.
