Region D water board stays seated; conservation plan approved

By LYNN MONTGOMERY | East Texas Edition

Jan. 27, 2005 - As the saying goes, "If it isn't broke, don't fix it" and that's exactly what happened at the Jan. 19 Region D North East Texas Regional Water Planning Group (NETRWPG) meeting held in Mount Pleasant.

The NETRWPG serves the Northeast Texas area, known on the state water plan as Region D.

Following election by the group, every officer retained their position on the board and the board's liaisons will continue their representation in the state's other regions.

The 2005 board officers are Jim Thompson of Cass County, chairperson; John Bradley of Marion County, vice chairman; Richard Letourneau of Harrison County, secretary/treasurer. The two at-large members are Beth Wisenbaker of Hopkins County and John Durgin of Van Zandt County.

Mendy Rabicoff will continue to be the liaison to Region I, which is the area just south of Region D; and Jim Thompson will continue the same capacity to Region C, which consists of the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. Region C continues to be the most-talked-about region by Region D of the 16 regions in the state; mainly because Region C appears to be the area that will have the most population growth of the next 50 years and therefore, unless measures are taken, will run out of water. Region C is looking to this region to help with the water crisis.

Recently, Dallas' city water department officials announced plans to reduce their water usage by 5 percent over the next five years, according to an article in the Jan. 11 Dallas Morning News. The plan, crafted by Alan Plummer Associates, is designed to cut water use through a series of rebate programs and education efforts. This would allow the city to postpone construction of new water lines and treatment plants, and buy itself more time before additional water sources are necessary, the article stated.

Dallas' municipal water use is nearly 75 percent greater than the U.S. average, and 50 to 80 percent greater than Houston, San Antonio, and Austin.

The board also took action approving conservation as a water management strategy. This strategy, implemented by the Region D consulting group, would force cities who use more than the suggested 140 gallons of water per person per day formula to look at conservation. The 140-gallon number was suggested by the Texas Water Task Force.

Consultant Reeves Hayter stated the number was not set in stone but was a suggestion by the task force.

Enforcing a water quantity limitation to residents would send a message to those cities who use a higher portion of water.

"If you are (a city that is) 140 are below, you can have additional supply. If you have 141 or above, you have to conserve," Walt Sears, NETRWPG administrator, said.

"I think it gives us a goal. If is rises above 140, a red light goes off to look at conservation," stated Letourneau, who serves as a volunteer to the state water task force.

The suggested number did raise a few hackles from two board members who represent water utilities and when the final vote came, they opposed the measure. The conservation strategy passed, with board members David Parsons and Richard Zachary casting the "nay" votes.

In other news, Texas Water Development Board representative Virginia Towles informed the group of a meeting scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Jan. 26 in the Robert E. Johnson Conference Center, Austin. The "Chairs Conference" will include discussion from the state's 16 region chairpersons regarding the water planning progress. Although the conference is open to the public, no public comment will be taken.