McLennan County approves work order to advance local water planning, joins Central Texas water discussions

McLennan County commissioners on Tuesday approved a work order under the county’s master engineering and consulting agreement to continue local water planning and to participate in a regional water alliance with neighboring Bell County. The motion to approve carried on a voice vote.

The work order directs engineering consultants to continue work with the McLennan County Water Resources Group, including follow-up on WaterSMART planning done with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and additional study of arsenic issues in the eastern part of the county. The work order also covers the county’s participation in the Central Texas Water Alliance, a coordination effort between McLennan County and Bell County intended to study collective responses to growth-driven water demand.

Consultant Tom (surname not specified) told the court the county’s effort is “unprecedented” in Texas for a county-led initiative of this scale and said collaborating with Bell County and other regional leaders could offer “economic benefit” by treating future water demand needs collectively rather than independently. He said the work order’s cost was presented as a not-to-exceed amount but that actual charges would reflect the level of work performed; the consultants will not charge the full not-to-exceed amount if less work is required.

Commissioners and the consultant discussed two discrete pieces of work in the order: continuation of countywide water planning and coordination with Bell County through the Central Texas Water Alliance. The court did not specify a dollar total in the meeting record beyond the consultants’ statement that the work order was not to exceed a ceiling figure; the approved action was to authorize the work order under the previously approved master agreement.

The court’s approval authorizes staff and the engineering team to proceed with the described planning and regional coordination; no additional formal directives or regulatory approvals were reported on the record. Commissioners did not vote on any policy changes or binding intergovernmental agreements with Bell County during this action—rather, the court approved the consultant work order that funds planning and coordination activities.

Background: commissioners previously approved a master engineering and consulting agreement under which individual work orders are brought back to the court for approval. The work order approved Tuesday continues earlier WaterSMART-related planning and begins coordinated study with Bell County officials on shared Central Texas water challenges.