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Horseshoe Bay officials explain how tap water is treated and warn homeowners about plumbing risks
Summary
City water staff said Horseshoe Bay draws drinking water from Lake LBJ and treats it at two plants; they warned that private plumbing, water softeners, point‑of‑use filters and non‑regulated labs can affect water quality beyond the meter and urged residents to contact the city for testing.
Corey, the city’s regulatory and compliance administrator, said Horseshoe Bay draws its municipal supply from Lake LBJ and operates two raw water pump stations that feed the city’s central and west treatment plants. "We guarantee that we are delivering safe, clean water from our plants right up to your water meter," Corey said, adding that staff report laboratory results to state and federal regulators and would issue a boil‑water notice if the system failed to meet standards.
Joel, the plant operations supervisor, described the treatment steps that the city uses to remove pathogens. "Well, when it first gets pulled out of the lake, it's dirty and full of harmful bacteria like giardia and cryptosporidium," Joel said. He summarized the process as chemical disinfection on intake, two stages of filtration, a second chemical injection to ensure disinfection, storage in the city’s reservoirs, and then distribution to customers.
George, the field operations supervisor, said his crew maintains the city’s distribution infrastructure and responds to leaks and service calls. "My team is responsible for maintaining over 185 mi of water pipes," George said, and he added the crew also maintains about 125 mi of wastewater pipes. He stressed that the city’s responsibility for water quality ends at each household’s meter and that problems in private plumbing can alter water quality.
City staff urged homeowners to be aware of how private equipment and plumbing can change drinking water after it leaves the meter. George warned that poorly maintained service lines or fixtures and supply pipes made of lead or copper can cause contamination and recommended hiring a reputable plumber to check household plumbing. Joel added that some water softeners and point‑of‑use filters reduce or remove residual chlorine and, if not maintained, can allow bacterial growth. He also said sediment in poorly maintained water heaters can be a breeding ground for bacteria.
On testing, Joel cautioned that many privately operated laboratories are not state regulated and "may not actually have anything to do with true water quality by state standards." He said the city uses a state‑regulated laboratory in Austin for compliance testing and invited residents concerned about their water to contact the city so staff can take samples on both sides of the meter.
The briefing concluded with staff thanking viewers and urging conservation. For residents concerned about plumbing or water quality, the city’s regulatory office said to call for guidance and for arranged sampling and testing.
