The Liberty Hill City Council on Aug. 13 postponed consideration of a Garver Engineering work order not to exceed $56,757.80 for a short‑term groundwater supply study following questions from council members about the study’s value and available data.

Public Works Director Jacob Parsons introduced the item as part of the city’s water master‑plan actions to identify short‑term groundwater options. Garver consultants Jeff Meadows and Dr. Neil Deeds (a hydrogeologist with Interra) presented the proposed desktop study, which would compile well completion data, yields, water levels and aquifer properties within a roughly three‑mile radius of the city’s potable infrastructure to identify potential Trinity‑Aquifer sources that might bridge supply needs until the Advanced Water Purification Facility (AWPF) is online around 2030.

Council members raised concerns about the Trinity Aquifer’s long‑term depletion, replenishment rates, and available recent water‑level data. One council member noted local wells drilled in 2024 show deep water levels and said the city previously conducted well studies; several members asked staff to confirm whether the proposed study would duplicate existing work and requested copies of prior analyses. After discussion, a council member moved to postpone the agenda item for further review; the motion passed 7–0.

Why it matters: The proposal sought a short‑term strategy to provide up to ten years of supplemental potable water by identifying productive well locations, yields and estimated costs. Council’s request for more data reflects concern about investing in groundwater that may not be sustainable in the long term.

Next steps: Staff will assemble the earlier well study material and other relevant data, and return the item for future consideration. The Garver team estimated the desktop study could be completed in roughly 60 days if authorized; council postponed authorization to allow staff to verify existing data and avoid duplicate work.