Thunderbird Bay Water System Temporary Receiver John M. Fultz issued a press release today stating that preliminary work to initiate an emergency interconnection with Brookesmith Special Utility District began on Thursday to avoid an interruption of water service to customers in the Thunderbird Bay area.
Due to the current severe drought conditions, Thunderbird Bay Water System has instituted several measures in an attempt to ensure a continuous water supply to its customers. All customers are currently under Drought contingency Stage 5, the most serious self-help measure available to the Water System.
The Thunderbird Bay Water System operator has moved the intake pups from their original north lake location to another north lake location on a barge which at one time had 7 feet of water available.
“Unfortunately, the lake level continues to drop, affecting the north lake access,” Fultz said in the press release. “A new solution for diverting water from the lake will need to be found for Thunderbird Bay.”
Fultz said that they have worked over the past two weeks with TCEQ and their engineers to arrive at several alternatives, and determined that the best course of action would be a temporary emergency interconnection with Brookesmith Special Utility District. He said that engineers have designed the interconnection and the pipeline to move forward with this solution, and they have received approval from TCEQ to use funds from the Thunderbird Bay Surcharge Account to pay for the interconnection.
Fultz said in the press release that he wanted to thank Brown County, Brown County Water Improvement District #1, Brookesmith SUD, and Mr. Darrell D “Donnie” Wilson for their assistance in the project.
