Enjoyed another session of Round Rock UniverCity. This one focused on utilities. The primary attention was on management of water supplies and how its impacts residents. The city of Round Rock has done a good job negotiating water supplies with central Texas sources so that residents pay a steady water rate compared to other similar cities.

Enjoyed the tour of Round Rock’s water facilities thanks to the local leadership.

Other municipalities like Leander, Austin, and Georgetown ‘under-planned’ for population and housing growth. Round Rock is ahead of the game. Other municipalities come to Round Rock’s water testing lab since they lack facilities of their own. They continue to increase water rates while restricting residential usage. I learned that regional water shortages have increased electricity demand for groundwater pumping and getting water from far away sources. Round Rock is in better shape than most central Texas cities.

Furthermore, industrial growth coming from behemoth companies such as Tesla and Samsung strains the dwindling supplies regionally. Large corporations are cooperating by recycling as much of their water usage as possible. Nonetheless, electricity bills will rise indefinitely into the future in order to support the growing water projects and upgrades needed. Round Rock’s population will continue to grow.

I did some further digging on the water topic and learned that the Texas Water Development Board doesn’t factor climate effects into its long-term plans for the state water supply according to a study by Robert Mace of Texas State University. Other critical findings in the report highlight why the springs are going dry: link

I’m confident that Round Rock will figure things out and continue to be a good steward for its residents. Water has become the new Gold. There’s a saying that whoever has the gold makes the rules. Water has become the ultimate prize (like gold) needing protection.