Council approves three‑year treated‑water contract with WCID No. 3 after questions on wholesale rates

The City Council approved a three‑year amended treated water supply contract to provide up to 3 million gallons per day to Nueces County WCID No. 3, which serves Robstown. City staff and the utility director described the pricing approach for wholesalers and answered council questions about how the treated wholesale rate differs from raw water and retail rates.

Wesley Nebian, director of water systems infrastructure, told council the treated wholesale rate for water taken at the source (Owen Stevens) is $1.80 per 1,000 gallons under the current rate ordinance; council members asked staff to supply a breakdown of how aggregate treated rates are calculated so members can compare treatment versus transmission and distribution costs. "We can definitely go over that in the rate model and bring it back to you," Nebian said.

The contract contains a conditional clause under which the city will supply water at no cost to WCID No. 3 if certain total dissolved solids and pumping conditions persist, and a 30‑day dispute negotiation provision before termination to prevent abrupt cutoffs. Charlie Zahn, counsel for WCID No. 3, said the district negotiated a provision that requires both parties to negotiate for 30 days before the city could terminate the agreement.

Public commenters from Robstown supported the agreement as necessary to secure safe water for WCID No. 3 residents; other speakers urged council to ensure long‑term mitigation for river impacts from pumping. Council approved the contract by voice vote.

The approved action directs staff to finalize contract execution and return with any clarifying rate‑model information the council requested.