Breckenridge staff says TWDB projects, water‑loss grant and lead service‑line work expected but likely costly

The City of Breckenridge received an update from its engineering firm and city staff on two Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) projects and on the federally prompted lead service‑line inventory and replacement effort.

Sage Miller, an engineer with EHT, told the council the drinking‑water project (State Revolving Fund) is further along and that the design submitted to TWDB has received comments; staff expect final approval of design plans within weeks and then will set bid dates for water‑line replacement work. A parallel wastewater planning and engineering feasibility report (EFR) is under review and the city has already advanced many wastewater system designs pending TWDB approval.

Miller said the TWDB will also invite the city to apply in December for a water‑loss mitigation program estimated at $5,700,000 with a 70 percent grant share. "That’s another great opportunity to replace a bunch of leaking water lines," Miller said, noting the city has many cast‑iron lines that contribute most leaks.

On the lead service‑line initiative, staff explained the federal program requires inventorying every service line (water main to meter; meter to house is private). The city missed an earlier inventory deadline and submitted an inventory with many entries marked "unknown," which required a public notice to residents. City Manager Cynthia said crews and a contracted crew have been working the inventory and the city will publish an interactive online map showing line materials when the inventory is complete.

Miller and Cynthia said most discovered problematic materials have been galvanized pipe rather than rigid lead, but that federal and state guidance treats galvanized lines as candidates for replacement if they cannot be demonstrated to never have had lead fittings upstream. That categorization substantially increases replacement counts. "It's likely to be somewhere in the $6 to $10 million range," Miller said of a full replacement program when factoring in pavement, curb and restoration, though he cautioned that more precise numbers will depend on a refined inventory and final project scope.

Staff said the city continues to meet required periodic water testing and has not exceeded current lead action levels, but noted regulatory limits on lead are evolving and could tighten. Council members directed staff to post inventory results online and to continue coordinating TWDB applications and project timing so paving and utility work align.