Oakland adopts 2020 water master plan

The Oakland Town Commission took a big step to the continuing improvement of its water utility master plan during its meeting Tuesday, July 14.

The master water plan itself was last revised in 2008 and took into consideration many of the items mandated in the 2006 consumptive use permit, as well as other aspects necessary to provide reliable service.

After 12 years, town officials said it was time for an update.

“After nearly two years of working through the details on this, we have a new water master plan,” Public Works Director Mike Parker said. “The last time it was revised was way back in 2008 … some things still apply and some things do not.” 

Over the last 12 years, the area has seen growth. In 2015, new residential development spiked the town population, which required the need for more water.

Furthermore, in 2017, the town was issued a new CUP from the Water Management District that placed regulations on groundwater. That forced the town to take a 5% reduction over the 2006 allotments. The new allotment of .89 million gallons per day has put a stress on the town. Between between Jan. 1 and June 30 of this year, the town had 41 days of use where it exceeded that number and more days that came close. At the current rate of growth, by 2024-25 the town anticipates crossing the threshold of using more than its annual allotment.

“You take the ever-changing restrictions on groundwater use, the regulatory issues that we are faced with on an everyday basis and the insatiable demand for irrigation — add on development on top of all of that — (and) yes, things have changed a bit since 2008,” Parker said. “The town was successful in completing several components of the previous plan — none were cheap, none were easy, but we did it.

“This plan sets the stage for the next round of capital improvements — new water well, an alternative water system and pipeline improvements,” he said. “None of these will be cheap, and none will be easy, but we still need to do what needs to be done.”

The plan calls for six different improvements in order to get the town’s water system where it needs to be. The list includes: 

• A redundant 1,800 GPM well connected to water treatment plant No. 1;
• An alternative water supply stormwater harvesting capture, treatment, storage and pumping system to meet irrigation water demands for new developments;
• Modification of CUP #3347 to meet future potable water demands;
• Construction of a new 100,000-gallon ground storage tank to meet fire storage requirements; 
• Exploration of options to increase high-service pumps capacity; and
• Upsizing distribution-system piping and improve system reliability.

“After nearly two years of working through the details on this, we have a new water master plan. The last time it was revised was way back in 2008 … some things still apply and some things do not.” 

—Mike Parker, Oakland public works director

Overall, the projected cost for the recommended facilities to serve the town’s potable water system is $7.52 million — resulting in an estimated cost per residential connection of about $2,900 per connection, assuming 2,563 total connections (890 existing plus 1,673 planned), according to the report completed by CPH Inc.

A few of the commissioners — and Mayor Kathy Stark — had questions regarding different aspects of the plan, with Stark asking about CPH’s estimated population projection of 8,900 by 2039.

“We leaned on a buildout of 7,000 the last time, and now I’m looking at your graph, and it’s showing almost 9,000 — that’s a much bigger number,” Stark said. “I know we have a JPA (joint planning area) and I know some of the things that we approved are a little more dense than anticipated, so do we feel like 9,000 is pretty solid, end-of-the-road number?”

Based on the timeframe, CPH officials stood by their estimation, Project Manager Scott Breitenstein said.

The commission approved the new water master plan unanimously.