Rodney Taylor, Director of Water Utilities for the City of Abilene, released the following statement on a proposed wastewater treatment facility at Hubbard Creek Reservoir:
“The City of Abilene is aware of a permit application to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for a private wastewater treatment facility to be located adjacent to Hubbard Creek Reservoir.
“The Reservoir is owned and operated by the West Central Texas Municipal Water District. The City of Abilene is a founding member of the District, and several Abilene Citizens serve on the District’s board.
“The City of Abilene has the highest confidence that the District will act in the best interest of Abilene in protecting the lake and its water quality.”
Background:
The Peninsula RV Resort, LLC. has applied for a Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination Permit (TPDES) from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, according to a statement on the West Central Texas Municipal Water District’s website.
The plant would be subject to construction oversight and approval by the TCEQ.
The permit application, which would allow for discharge of about 15,000 gallons per day, or 16.8 acre-feet per year, of treated effluent into Hubbard Creek Reservoir, was declared “Administratively Complete” on Jan. 20, 2023.
The wastewater would be processed by a small Conventional Activated Sludge “Packet” Plant, including screening, aeration basins, clarifier and disinfection steps, the District’s statement says.
One acre-foot is about 326,000 gallons of water.
“For perspective, a recent reservoir volume was 213,274 acre-feet, at elevation 1,175.72 feet above mean sea level,” the District said, with the minimum reservoir volume in recent history at 38,572 acre-feet, or 1,151.90 MSL, on May 8, 2015.
About the West Central Texas Municipal Water District
The Water District constructed and owns Hubbard Creek Reservoir, located in Stephens and Shackelford Counties.
Water impounded by Hubbard Creek Reservoir is not owned by the District but by the State of Texas under the jurisdiction of the TCEQ, according to the District.
Its permit allows for impounding and storage of water within the reservoir, while further amendments and adjudication allows it to divert water from the Reservoir for Abilene, Albany, Anson, Breckenridge, and other authorized water users, according to the District’s website.
A permit from the TCEQ is required when a person or entity diverts from or discharges into the reservoir.
More information
A copy of the proposed project’s permit application is available at the Breckenridge Public Library, 209 North Breckenridge Avenue, in Breckenridge, Texas.
Public comments on the proposed permit may be submitted to the TCEQ, www.tceq.texas.gov.
The West Texas Municipal Water District’s statement is available here.