Current Projects

NEW TEXAS STATE MANDATE

To be implemented by July 1, 2022

On June 8, 2021, the 87^th Legislature passed Senate Bill 3 (SB 3) that created Section 13.1394 in the Texas Water Code (TWC) which requires affected utilities to provide emergency operations of their water during extended power outages lasting more than 24 hours.  Based on Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s (TCEQ) records, Tri-Community Water Supply Corporation (TCWSC) meets the definition of an affected utility; as an affected utility TCWSC is required to submit an Emergency Preparedness Plan (EPP).  This plan must be submitted to TCEQ no later than March 1, 2022, the EPP will be required to be implemented no later than July 1, 2022.

Affected utilities are required to develop an EPP to restore the water system’s minimum operating water pressure of 20 pounds per square inch (psi), whenever a power outage lasts more than 24 hours. The law requires water systems with residential customers or that provide overnight accommodations at their facility, to provide water service during extended power outages of 24 hours or more.

During the February 2021 freeze Bluebonnet began one of many rolling blackouts mandated by ERCOT which affected the power supply to Tri-Community Water. The loss of electricity caused a domino effect of failures to our water system resulting in loss of pressure and the ability to provide water to the citizens of Prairie Lea, Fentress & Stairtown.

While this is an expensive endeavor (TCW) has financed three (3) generators from Generator Source out of Brighton, Colorado. TCWSC has managed to secure the necessary funds to comply with the mandated SB3 requirements to ensure uninterrupted service during bad weather situations without the need to raise rates at this time.

One 100kW Detroit generator fueled with a 1,000 gallon underground propane tank at Tri-Community’s Well sites #2&3 to supply power to the well pumps located off of Main Street in Fentress, TX.

One100kW Detroit generator to be placed on a concrete pad, fueled  with a 1,000 gallon underground propane tank at Tri-Community’s Plant to supply power for the distribution pumps and electrical components on site located at 92 Ward Street in Fentress, TX.

One Generac 50 kW generator to be placed on a concrete pad fueled with a 1,000 gallon above ground propane tank at Tri-Community’s Elevated Storage Tank to supply power for the controls on site located at 7765 San Marcos Hwy. in Prairie Lea, TX.