Water, wastewater and other infrastructure construction in Taylor’s past and future — which includes Samsung Austin Semiconductor — is being discussed this month at City Hall. On Thursday, April 11, the Taylor City Council will review completed projects and final results from use of the 2019 infrastructure bond. The meeting comes on the heels of special called meeting Aug. 2 to discuss water and wastewater concerns.
Water & Sewer
The Aug. 2 meeting focused on Taylor’s future water and sewer infrastructure. Factors include the city’s comprehensive plan, its growth sectors and future land use maps, current and future usage, existing water and sewer systems, their growth and water treatment plants.
Jacob Walker, HDR associate and project manager, reviewed residential needs based on 2020 Census data and population projections for 2040. Taylor is expected to grow from 16,267 to 39,552.
Discussion centered on effects from the planned Samsung Austin Semiconductor plant in construction in southwest Taylor. Based on HDR’s findings, Samsung is expected to have a longterm average demand of 870,000 gallons per day (0.87 MGD). Angelica Salazar expressed concerns at Taylor’s capacity to supply enough water to Samsung amid general water supply issues.
“It’s hot. It’s dry, and we’re going to give our resources to a factory,” said Salazar. “I want to look after my community, my family, my neighbors. Samsung will leave us dry, and it’s not fair.”
Representatives from HDR and the city went over details of how Samsung’s water and sewer usage would be mapped out. Councilmember Dwayne Ariola also had water and wastewater concerns.
“We’ve increased the purchase of BRA (Brazos River Authority) water to support growth, and now we are increasing the wastewater treatment plant capacity to handle the growth,” said Ariola. “Currently, all the potable water going to Samsung with BRA, and all the wastewater produced by Samsung is coming our way.” Tom Yantis, Taylor city development services director, went over Samsung’s projected wastewater demand of 0.37 MGD. He also explained how the demand must stay at 0.37.
“They’re contractually obligated to limit their wastewater demand to 0.37. That’s the maximum amount that we’re required to receive from them,” said Yantis. “There are provisions in there that we address (if Samsung goes over 0.37), so basically, they’ve already anticipated exactly how much effluent that they’re going to send from their property to the city of Taylor wastewater treatment plant.”
Ariola was concerned how Taylor’s current sewer demand of 1.2 MGD for 16,267 residents, which is 60% of the city’s water demand, would only go up by 0.37 MGD with the addition of 10,000 employees. HDR and city personnel explained that since Samsung would not be housing new residents that would in turn being using water for typical uses of a household such dishwashing, showers and outdoor watering, each Samsung employee is expected to use less water than a Taylor resident.
Kelly Kaatz, HDR south central regional operations director, clarified that the numbers do not take into account potential additional fabrication plants and their needs uncommitted by Taylor. “0.37 represents the first phase of Samsung development,” said Kaatz. “That’d be a whole other situation.”
Other ramifications from the Samsung plant were also discussed. Among unrelated findings in HDR’s studies, Walker noted of the 1.47 MGD of water sold to Taylor customers, approximately 0.47 MGD was lost for 24% water loss.
“We have leak detection programs that can be done and are being done through public works to identify those,” said Walker, “We don’t know exactly where all this loss is coming from.” HDR also reviewed other concerns, including being reliant on one source of water from Granger Lake and BRA.
For the full discussion, visit http:// taylortx.swagit.com/ play/08032022-730.
This Thursday’s meeting
In regards to the 2019 infrastructure bond, the council issued bond debt to get a larger scale infrastructure program with multiple projects to attract interest from the contracting community, obtain better quality projects, and bring the price per unit of project down. According to city staff, all goals were met with the bond.
Projects used from the bond include work on Third Street, multiple street reconstruction projects, a lift station generator and emergency water and wastewater repairs.
In other business, the council is scheduled to:
• issue a proclamation for Farmers Market Week;
• discuss and consider the 2022-23 public works streets, transportation utility fee and municipal drainage utility system program;
• discus and consider 2022 street maintenance in regards to HDR task order 27 and Raba Kistner Geotech Proposal and Street Program for the 2022-23 fiscal year;
• consider a takehome-vehicle policy;
• consider a part time off policy; and
• enter into executive sessions to discuss the acquisition of property rights for the FM 973 roadway, Water and Wastewater Construction Project, followed by Taylor Independent School District property at Mallard Lane.
The council meeting is at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 400 Porter St., in the council chamber. Those wishing to address the council have a three-minute limit and must sign up by 5:45 p.m. The council agenda and live video stream of the meeting can be found at http://www.taylortx.go
