Vernon’s water line request to get state hearing

Vernon should know tomorrow whether or not its bid for a $12,000,000 low interest loan will be approved. The Texas Water Development Board is slated to meet Thursday at 9:30 a.m. to consider Vernon’s application for funds to construct
a new pipeline from the city’s water well fields in the north part of the county.
Vernon’s request is one of 15 that the board is scheduled to consider.
According to TWDB documents, its staff has recommended that the board approve the loan request. The board’s packet states: “The City relies solely upon groundwater from the Seymour Aquifer that is conveyed to the City through a 24-inch, 16-mile-long pipeline. This transmission system also supplies groundwater to several surrounding water systems that purchase water from the City. Part of this pipeline was installed in 1953 and the other part was installed in 1972. An 8.5-mile section of the older pipeline has experienced frequent breaks, has become increasingly expensive to maintain, and has reached the end of its useful life.The proposed project will replace 8.5 miles of the old, deteriorated pipeline with 24-inch PVC pipe using open-cut construction. The old pipe will be plugged and abandoned in place. Additionally, various valves and fittings will be strategically placed along the new transmission pipeline.”

See Wednesday’s print edition for more details on the proposal.

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