Commissioners hear opposition to Burnet’s effluent discharge plans
BURNET — A group of Marble Falls residents told Burnet County Commissioners they don’t want state officials to allow the city of Burnet to increase its effluent discharge into Hamilton Creek.
They also want the commissioners to join their opposition.
Speaking as a member of Concerned Citizens of Hamilton Creek during the commissioners’ meeting Tuesday, Clint Rhodes said a proposed increase in the flow of treated sewage into the creek might pollute the water and ruin its beauty.
The creek flows into Lake Travis.
“Hamilton Creek is a jewel,” Rhodes said.
Also from Marble Falls, Mustard Seed Ministries Pastor Dennis Cornelison, his wife Diane and Charles Hatchet spoke against the effluent increase.
Burnet municipal officials have said the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality must allow the increased discharge if the city is to keep pace with population growth and water use the next 25 years.
“We ask you to maybe write a letter to encourage them (TCEQ) to look at other alternatives,” Cornelison said.
Protect Lake Travis Association President Lonnie Moore also told the commissioners the effluent increase would harm the creek.
“It will have a negative impact on the quality of water from the creek,” Moore said.
County Commissioner Bill Neve reminded the group the Lower Colorado River Authority restricts the return flow of effluent from municipal systems into the Highland Lakes above Austin.
“This is a no-win situation for the court,” Neve told The Daily Tribune. “Our constituents are divided on this issue. We have no way to prove or disapprove of technical facts unless we hire an engineer for both sides of the issue, and we are not going to do that.”
Hamilton Creek is a freshwater stream that extends about four miles south of Texas 29 near the city of Burnet to Lake Travis and the Colorado River.
Burnet city officials have applied to TCEQ to authorize an increase in the discharge of treated domestic wastewater into the creek from an average flow of 760,000 gallons a day to an average flow of 1.1 million gallons per day.
TCEQ Executive Director Mark Vickery has recommended approval, Burnet Assistant City Manager David Vaughan said Tuesday.
The state commission could render a final decision during the next two to three months, Vaughan added.
Also, the city is working on an agreement with LCRA related to the proposed increase, Vaughan said.
“At this point, we do not have a response from them,” Vaughan added.
TCEQ has determined the increase will meet all state and environmental requirements with no harm to the water, according to Burnet city officials.
In addition, aquatic life, the public water supply and recreation will not be impaired, officials have said.