LCRA awards $65,000 grant to help stop water leaks in Lago Vista

​​​​​Local Communities
LCRA representatives present a $65,000 cost-share grant to the City of Lago Vista to help complete a project to identify and repair leaks within the city’s water infrastructure. The grant is part of LCRA’s Firm Water Conservation Cost-Share Program. Pictured left to right are: Eric Belaj, Lago Vista director of Public Works; city council members Don Barthlow, David Williams, Frank Robbins and Tim Collins; George W. Russell, LCRA Board member; Ed Tidwell, Lago Vista mayor; city council members Arch Davila and Dick Weatherly; and Stacy Pandey, LCRA senior water conservation coordinator.

LAGO VISTA, Texas – The City of Lago Vista will be better able to locate and repair leaks in its aging water infrastructure thanks to a $65,000 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority.

The cost-share grant will help Lago Vista complete a $150,000 project to improve more than 130,000 feet of water mains that are nearing 50 years old. By repairing leaks quickly, the city will decrease water waste and help conserve water from the Highland Lakes.

“We have one area identified, which is phase one of a multi-year plan, to find and repair leaks in the city,” said Eric Belaj, City of Lago Vista engineer and public works director. “The grant will be used in two ways: to conduct a leak survey and to purchase materials to fix the leaks.”

Because of its aging infrastructure, Lago Vista deals with frequent water main breaks, with many of the main valves inoperable or not working properly.

The project is expected to help Lago Vista save about 83 acre-feet of water annually, or roughly 27 million gallons.

“We’re pleased to support Lago Vista in this effort to identify and repair leaks,” said John Hofmann, LCRA executive vice president of Water. “Leaking pipes can waste millions of gallons of water a year. We all need to do our part to conserve water, whether it’s reducing household use or repairing leaks on larger infrastructure.”

Over the last few years, Lago Vista has grown significantly, adding about 25 new taps, or customers, a month.

“It’s fantastic; we love it,” Belaj said about receiving the grant. “In the past, nobody has really done this – seek outside funding to deal with leaks. Hopefully, we’ve set a precedent that would encourage others to apply for funding for similar projects.”

The grants are awarded through LCRA’s Firm Water Conservation Cost-Share Program, which provides funding for water efficiency projects and programs established by LCRA’s firm water customers. Customers include cities, utilities, industries, irrigation and recreational water users. Projects funded through the program include converting irrigated areas using raw or potable water to recycled water, and decreasing utility system water loss, such as flushing reductions or leak detection and repair.

About LCRA
The Lower Colorado River Authority serves customers and communities throughout Texas by managing the lower Colorado River; generating and transmitting electric power; providing a clean, reliable water supply; and offering outdoor adventures at more than 40 parks along the Colorado River from the Texas Hill Country to the Gulf Coast. LCRA and its employees are committed to fulfilling our mission to enhance the quality of life of the Texans we serve through water stewardship, energy and community service. LCRA was created by the Texas Legislature in 1934 and receives no state appropriations. For more information, visit
lcra.org.

Media Contact
Clara Tuma
512–578–3292
clara.tuma@lcra.org


Source: LCRA Business News

Share This Post

Add Comment

+ 68 = 78