Weatherford utilities staff recommends keeping Lake Benbrook pumping reserve policy unchanged

Rick Schaffer, a utilities department presenter, told the Weatherford Municipal Utility Board that the Lake Benbrook pumping reserve policy is designed “to mitigate costs of purchasing and pumping water from Lake Benbrook or from the Tarrant Regional Water District system, particularly during times of drought so that a surcharge to our customers' water bills is unnecessary or at least minimal.”

Schaffer reviewed the policy history and current status: the reserve fund was established in 2015 and the board approved an increased annual transfer of up to $800,000 in December 2023, effective in fiscal 2025. He said the reserve fund balance after a recent transfer is approximately $3,800,000 and the staff target balance remains $6,000,000.

The presentation included updated estimated rates from Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD). Schaffer reported that TRWD’s tier-3 rate rose from about $1.35 to $1.40 per thousand gallons for FY25 and that TRWD provided projections through 2030 indicating a possible roughly 40% increase in that tier over the next six years, driven in part by planned bond issuances and capital projects.

Schaffer walked the board through modeled drought scenarios to show the policy’s protection. He said a 2013–15 multi-year drought pattern would have cost the city about $1.7 million under current demand and reuse assumptions, while the 1950s “drought of record” scenario modeled at roughly $7.0 million over a six‑year period. With the reserve at about $3.8 million plus the $800,000 annual transfer, Schaffer concluded the city could meet those modeled scenarios without immediately imposing a customer surcharge, while noting the board retains authority to apply a surcharge if absolutely necessary.

Board members asked several operational and planning questions. One board member asked whether projected rates into future years came directly from TRWD or from Weatherford’s own forecasts; Schaffer said the projections were supplied by TRWD. Another asked whether the Benbrook pipeline or treatment capacity would require upgrades within the next decade; Schaffer said the pipeline’s current pumping capacity is about 16 million gallons per day with room to add pumps to approach 20 million gallons per day and that no additional pipeline construction is anticipated in the next 10–25 years under current growth models.

On reuse water rights, Schaffer said TRWD’s standard policy limits additional reuse credits for wholesale customers and that the city previously discussed rights during permitting for Weatherford’s reuse project; staff can reopen conversations with TRWD about reuse capacity but do not expect an automatic increase.

Staff’s recommendation to the board was to maintain the annual transfer of up to $800,000, keep the current target reserve balance of $6,000,000 and continue monitoring and reviewing the pumping reserve fund and policy as required. Schaffer noted no formal board action was required for the annual update but that the item was placed on the regular agenda to allow the board to take action if they chose.

The board did not take formal action on policy changes at the meeting; staff will continue monitoring rates, demands and modeled scenarios and return to the board as needed.