2023 Bell County Water Symposium

KPA was honored to have Rick Kasberg, P.E., as a featured panelist at the 2023 Bell County Water Symposium on November 12^th.

Keeping in step with the event’s theme of “Water Resiliency and the Never-Ending Drought”, much of the panel discussion centered around Bell County’s efforts to combat future water supply issues. Bell County Judge David Blackburn served as the Moderator for the panel discussion focused on Aquifer Storage & Recovery (ASR). Judge Blackburn opened the panel discussion by noting that ASR is one of several “Bullets” in addressing future water supply shortages in Texas. ASR is the direct injection of surface water supplies such as potable water, reclaimed water, or river water into an aquifer for later recovery and use. The injection and extraction are done by means of a well.

Rick discussed KPA’s efforts in determining the feasibility of an ASR Project in the eastern part of the City of Temple utilizing reclaimed wastewater treatment plant effluent for storage water into the Lower Trinity Aquifer. Part of KPA’s scope included quantifying the volume of reclaimed water that would be available for storage less the required environmental flows and existing demands for industrial processes. Rick noted that there was potential to store some 3100 ac-ft per year of otherwise unused reclaimed water that would be discharged downstream. Although the reclaimed water quality met more than 95% of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs), which consists of over 250 constituents, it appears future use of reclaimed effluent will require additional treatment prior to storing in an aquifer.

Along with the panel discussion, KPA received the Texas 4-H Water Ambassadors Program Annual Sponsorship plaque. KPA has enjoyed supporting these students as they increase their knowledge of water resources in Texas through Program learning opportunities, service activities, and professional networking.

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