Waste not, water lots

Re-use of water is an emerging water conservation practice, and the city of Kilgore is looking into the feasibility of one day implementing a plan to use effluent water for industrial, irrigation and other uses.

Both Kilgore Mayor Joe T. Parker and Place 4 Commissioner Billy Bob Brady think recycling water is one of the best water conservation methods and that Kilgore is ideal for such a plan because of the existence of an abandoned sewer line in South Kilgore.

Recycled water, also referred to as effluent water, is the by-product of sewage treatment facilities.

David Hackley, utilities supervisor for the city, said effluent water is cleaner than that coming directly from Kilgore’s water sources.

“The water we release back (into the environment) is cleaner than it was when we first obtained it,” Hackley said.

“If we have a first use for water, then it’s there for a second use (after processing),” said Walt Sears, executive director of the North East Texas Municipal Water District. “Water reuse is an emerging water conservation practice.”

He noted that the city of Longview has a contract to supply effluent water to a power plant.

“The Metroplex is aggressively pursuing water reuse,” Sears said, citing other areas already using effluent water.

He said urban areas are growing so rapidly that the need for additional water supplies is a top priority and these areas are looking to rural areas to fill the water deficiency.

Sears said water planners in the Gregg and Harrison County areas “generally prefer using effluent water before building additional reservoirs.”

Parker and Brady, along with City Manager Jeff Howell, said the use of effluent water is something the city is considering, but not immediately. They all feel that the recycled water would be ideal for industrial and irrigation uses and would conserve potable water for consumption.

“Right now the city is selling potable water to companies in bulk,” Brady said.

This year, the city placed a metering system at the bulk water station near the main fire station.

“Before that, we had problems with overfills and drive offs,” Brady said. “Since installing the meter, bulk water revenue is up over $20,000.”

Brady said the system cost the city $15,000 “so it’s already paid for itself.”

“I think selling potable water to companies is a waste,” he said. “Why not sell effluent water at a reduced price to customers who can use it and use the profit to hold down potential increases on potable water rates ... pass the savings back to the customers.”

Brady terms this “recycling at its best.”

Sears said now is the time to start planning for future water use.

“We’ve determined that we have more than enough water for our projected needs for the next 50 years,” Sears said. “But we need to start thinking about the 50 years after that.”

Sears said the “highest priority of the North East Texas water planners is to increase re-use and conservation and develop strategies to be implemented in the future.”

He said the development of water conservation districts for ground water is growing.

“The pressure for access to (East Texas) water is increasing and we’re seeing the development of conservation districts to protect local resources.”

Rusk County established an underground water conservation district earlier this year.

Sears said a probability exists that some day the state could take charge of dispersing excess water.

“The state is charged with the responsibility of providing for its citizens,” Sears said. “Its promise to is encourage allocation of limited resources among the people. If we have excess water then they (those with shortages) are entitled (by law) to our excess supply.”

Brady said the city the first step should be for the city to look at potential customers for the effluent water.

“We need to see if there is really a demand that will make this project worth pursuing,” he said.

He said the city should also conduct a thorough search for grants available for water conservation projects.

“We should pursue this now. It’s being done in bigger cities,” he said. “We should form a group to study the issue and have the city confirm their findings.”

Parker and Brady said the abandoned sewer lines in South Kilgore could be used for the project.

“The existing line could be used as casing for a new line that would be used for the recycled water,” Brady said, referring to the line that runs from the water treatment plant through South Kilgore.

Parker thinks a project of this type would take perhaps two years to get operational.

“We’re just discussing this now. It’s something that we’ve been looking at but have not taken any action on,” he said.

“The bottom line is if we can sell something for irrigation or other purposes that we’re dumping into a creek it could lower the cost to the consumer and create more revenue for the city,” Brady said. “It’s a win-win situation.”

Howell said the project is good but, he punned, at this point it is just a “pipe dream”