Laredo officials outline principles for a second water source, warn of algae and intake risks

City utility officials told the advisory committee on July 9 that any second water source must be treated as insurance rather than a direct substitute for the Rio Grande, because river water remains the city’s cheapest source and alternatives are likely more expensive.

The director listed three guiding principles: the partner must deliver compatible water quality and pressures; agreements should be long‑term (30–40 years) to ensure sustainability; and financing should avoid placing the entire capital burden on existing ratepayers (‘‘growth pays for growth’’). He said the city is talking with multiple potential partners, including a legacy operator, Jasper Ranch and a confidential third party.

Committee members also raised water‑quality and operational concerns after noting installations of buoys and structures upstream in places such as Eagle Pass that can create stagnant zones and algae blooms near intakes. A committee member said that local river obstructions had caused stagnation and algae in nearby stretches; the director said federal negotiators had sought to keep buoys away from the city’s intake and suggested river clearing or drift‑tracing to improve flow if buoys cannot be removed.

Members discussed regional desalination proposals but staff cautioned that ocean‑based desalination plus long‑distance pipelines would be multi‑billion‑dollar projects and take many years to deliver. The director said Laredo is monitoring regional proposals and maintaining contacts with neighboring cities for potential lobbying but emphasized the high cost and long timeline for desalination and transfer pipelines.

No formal committee motion followed; the discussion was recorded as informational and part of staff planning.