Council approves special‑use permit for water utility equipment enclosure; company says storage meets TCEQ containment standards

The City of Bulverde approved a special‑use permit requested by Texas Water Company to formalize an existing water booster pump station site and to permit a new 10×15‑foot stone equipment enclosure to store water‑treatment chemicals and ancillary equipment.

Rachel Tacket, presenting for Texas Water Company, said the site has functioned as a utility location since November 2015 and that proposed improvements would not introduce a new use but would bring zoning into alignment with historical operations. She described proposed changes to replace chlorine gas with sodium hypochlorite (industrial bleach) and said the chemical storage tanks are double‑walled for secondary containment and that the chemicals and storage would be permitted through the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

Council members asked about screening and tree removal (the application lists removal of eight oak trees), noise from new pumps and whether the small pump equipment would cause motor noise, and where off‑gassing and mixing would occur. The applicant responded that mixing would occur in the existing ~50,000‑gallon ground storage tank and that the in‑building pumps are compact and make only a “clicking” sound rather than continuous motor noise.

One speaker raised concerns about future road expansion along Blanco Road and how that might interact with the facility; staff clarified this section of road is a city street and would be subject to city processes. After questions, a motion to approve the SUP passed by voice vote.

Council and the applicant noted the SUP would formalize a long‑standing essential utility use and that staff and the company would coordinate any mitigation for landscaping or screening.