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Council subcommittee outlines next steps on golf-course irrigation, says pressure test will determine reuse vs replacement
Summary
A council subcommittee reported on technical review of the Lago Vista golf-course irrigation and effluent distribution system, recommending a pressure test of the main line, repairs to Pond 17, and pump house work at Ponds 2 and 14 before deciding whether to reuse the 1960s mainline or build a new system.
A Lago Vista City Council subcommittee on irrigation reported to the full council that it had located historical irrigation design documents and completed a technical review that narrowed immediate next steps: schedule a pressure test of the golf‑course mainline to assess structural integrity, repair Pond 17 to stop leaks, and install pump houses, electrical and pumps at Ponds 2 and 14 so the system can operate whether the city reuses existing pipe or replaces the system.
Subcommittee chair Councilmember Prince and staff described the sequence of actions the committee recommends. Staff located a 1968 12‑page irrigation design, a 2000 CAD irrigation design, and a detailed 35‑page assessment from 2017. The committee said its core near‑term technical questions are whether the existing mainline can be safely reused and whether TCEQ (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality) will allow the city to average effluent distribution monthly or annually — a regulatory interpretation that affects design capacity.
"If [the line] catastrophically fails, then I think we're kind of done," Councilmember Prince said during the discussion, describing the binary character of the upcoming test: a decisive failure would point toward replacement, while a successful test would likely trigger a targeted inspection program to determine salvageability.
What the subcommittee said it will do next - Schedule a controlled high‑pressure test of the golf‑course mainline (section‑by‑section where feasible) to reveal structural failures or weak repairs. The test procedure and required pressures will be confirmed before execution. - Repair Pond 17 immediately to stop effluent leakage; use Pond 2 temporarily while Pond 17 is repaired. - Add pump houses, electrical service and pumps at Ponds 2 and 14 (those items are not included in the current construction contract and will require design and likely change orders). Those pump houses will be needed whether the city reuses the mainline or constructs a new irrigation system. - Ask TCEQ for clarification about monitoring and whether the permit must be satisfied on a monthly average versus an annual average. The interpretation affects whether the city can bank lower winter usage for higher summer irrigation demand.
Technical context and financial considerations The city’s effluent permit allows irrigation at a specified acre‑foot rate; the subcommittee reported the theoretical average at roughly 431,000 gallons per day across approximately 140 acres if the entire area is irrigated. The subcommittee also noted that the current system is not delivering that level of distribution and that, even if reuse is feasible, substantial modifications and new pumping infrastructure will be required.
Subcommittee members said Cedar Breaks (an existing effluent distribution site) is approaching its permitted capacity, which increases the urgency of restoring full golf-course distribution capability. The committee said that reusing a mainline that can be made serviceable for roughly 10 more years would be the most cost‑effective near‑term option; if the line cannot be made reliable for a decade, full replacement will likely be recommended.
Background documents and next steps The subcommittee identified historical plans and a recent 2017 assessment file that will inform design work. Staff will return with pressure‑test procedures, estimated costs for repair versus replacement (including pump houses/electrical), and a clear statement from TCEQ about permit averaging. The subcommittee asked staff to include bond counsel and financial staff in later recommendations to confirm how available bond proceeds might be applied to any recommended work.
Why residents should care The irrigation and effluent distribution work affects where and how the city can reuse treated wastewater for irrigation — a key operational and financial element of the city’s wastewater planning. The subcommittee’s near‑term recommendations, if implemented, will determine whether the city can meet irrigation needs without immediate full replacement of the under‑ground mains and will influence capital budgets and scheduling for pond and pump projects.
