Posted: Wed, 9 Dec 2009 11:39 AM - 11,750 Readers

By: James Walker

Burnet city officials and representatives of a Lake Travis environmental group staged a polite but firm discussion Monday evening with board members of the Central Texas Groundwater Conservation District essentially playing the role of a dispassionate audience during its monthly meeting.

Members of the Protect Lake Travis Association had asked for the opportunity to brief the board on the effects of wastewater and effluent on the Hill Country region. Raymond Slade, a long-time hydrologist for the association delivered a PowerPoint presentation demonstrating the influence that the discharging of domestic waste and the presence of effluent and contaminants has on the region’s aquifers and water supply.

“Hamilton Creek flow can have a great impact on the water quality of Lake Travis,” Slade concluded.

The Protect Lake Travis Association’s immediate concern is a permit request by the city of Burnet to expand and modernize its wastewater treatment facility and increase its allowed wastewater discharge from .726 million gallons a day to 1.7 million gallons per day.

Lonnie Moore, president of Protect Lake Travis Association, praised the city of Burnet as an honorable and responsible citizen when it comes to disposing of its wastewater, but said the association wants assurances the city will continue to be so.

For the full story, see The Burnet Bulletin.