Kerrville to explain Elm Creek Pipeline, a drought water-supply plan, at Wednesday meeting

The city of Kerrville will host a public meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday to explain, and take questions on, the Elm Creek Pipeline — a project that would let the city send highly treated reclaimed water back into the Guadalupe River above its drinking-water intake during severe droughts.

The meeting is set for the Arcadia Live, 717 Water St. City staff say it will give residents, businesses and others a chance to review project materials, ask questions and tell the city what they want addressed as the project moves forward.

Here is how the city describes the project’s central idea: during severe drought, the pipeline would return high-quality reclaimed water to the Guadalupe upstream of the city’s intake at Nimitz Lake. There, it would blend with natural river flows before going through the city’s full drinking-water treatment process and on to customers.

The city frames the pipeline as part of its long-term water strategy, designed to add operational flexibility and resilience when supplies are stretched. According to the city, it is meant to support a sustainable supply for anticipated growth, reduce the city’s reliance on the Guadalupe River and the Lower Trinity Aquifer during extreme drought, and help manage long-term costs for ratepayers.

The project builds on a reclaimed-water program the city says already delivers roughly 200 million to 300 million gallons a year to existing customers, alongside conservation efforts and aquifer storage and recovery wells. At its June 16 budget workshop, the council reviewed $530,000 set aside to design and engineer the line.

The city signaled it expects questions about water quality. It noted that its Water Treatment Plant runs an on-site lab that tests Guadalupe River water before and after treatment, and that the Water Reclamation Plant — which currently discharges treated water into Third Creek — conducts testing to meet its permit. Both plants use the Public Works Environmental Lab, which is accredited by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

Residents can learn more, sign up for updates and submit questions or comments at kerrvilletx.gov/ElmCreekPipeline, or by contacting the Public Works Department at (830) 258-1221.