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Council postpones $56,758 groundwater desktop study after members question value
Summary
Liberty Hill paused a proposed $56,757.80 Garver Engineering desktop study of short-term groundwater options after council members expressed concerns about overlap with prior work and the Trinity Aquifer’s depletion; presenters said the study aims to identify short-term 5–10 year supplies within a 3-mile radius.
The Liberty Hill City Council on Aug. 13 postponed consideration of a Garver Engineering work order to perform a short-term groundwater options desktop study, priced not to exceed $56,757.80, after council members raised concerns about the cost and whether the desktop study would duplicate prior research.
Public Works Director Jacob Parsons introduced the item, saying the study would help determine what groundwater in the Trinity Aquifer could be used to supplement the city’s supply in the short term. Jeff Meadows of Garver told council the objective was a “quick desktop study to identify potential groundwater sources largely within the Trinity Aquifer in a 3-mile radius within the city's existing infrastructure,” with the intent to produce yields, drawdown estimates and cost inputs for a 5–10 year horizon.
Hydrogeologist Dr. Neil Deeds (Interra) said the study would include data collection, hydraulic analysis and cost estimates, and that a two-month timeline was feasible. “I think 10 years is doable,” Deeds said when describing the study’s planning horizon, while also cautioning that Trinity water levels in the area are “pretty deep” and the aquifer is “over depleted.”
Several council members pressed for updated local well data and for clarity on recharge/replenishment rates. One council member said they were “not comfortable making this decision tonight” without seeing prior well studies and asked staff to assemble existing local studies. Councilmember Diane Williams moved to postpone the item for further discussion; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously 7–0.
Council did not adopt the Garver work order and directed staff to provide additional information for future consideration.
