Tag Archives: Austin Water Utility
1,200 housing units planned near Lakeline, pending zoning change
The Planning Commission on May 23 recommended allowing up to 1,200 housing units on the last 30 acres of undeveloped land in the 446-acre Leander Rehabilitation planned unit development, instead of office and commercial space as had previously been planned.…
Planning • By Jonathan Lee • Jun 1, 2023
Austin Water says it's doing better in the face of crises
At Wednesday’s joint meeting of City Council’s Audit and Finance Committee and the Austin Water Oversight Committee, Austin Water Director Shay Ralls Roalson answered questions about a variety of topics, but one of the most difficult involved vacancies within the…
Water • By Jo Clifton • Mar 30, 2023
Austin Water to discuss progress on improvement plan today
In the wake of five troubling incidents between 2018 and 2022, which led the former director of Austin Water to resign, the utility’s current leaders have been working to complete changes intended to prevent future service disruptions, such as boil-water…
Water • By Jo Clifton • Mar 29, 2023
Hundreds of fish found dead in Shoal Creek after waterline break
Update: Austin’s Watershed Protection Department told KUT in an email Friday that staff have found about 300 dead fish now. “Last night’s storm pushed debris in the creek, along with the fish, toward an inlet where staff were able to…
Environment • By Haya Panjwani, KUT • Mar 17, 2023
Austin Water making progress but needs more employees
Members of City Council’s Audit and Finance Committee have reviewed the findings of a report detailing problems during four significant events at Austin Water’s Ullrich Water Treatment Plant between 2018 and February 2022, including three boil-water notices and a zebra…
Water • By Jo Clifton • Jan 19, 2023
UT report offers 'roadmap' for changes at Austin Water
In the wake of five incidents between 2018 and 2022 related to water quality problems, including three boil-water notices and a zebra mussel invasion, Austin Water Director Greg Meszaros resigned and City Council asked the city auditor to identify a group…
Water • By Jo Clifton • Jan 12, 2023
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Austin is giving away free winter prep kits this week
Austin’s utility companies and Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management will distribute free winter-weather supply kits this week at customer service centers. The kits include water meter keys, styrofoam hose covers, hand-crank flashlights, first-aid supplies and winter weather tip…
Resources • By Laura Morales, KUT • Jan 10, 2023
Austin Water, which has issued three boil-water notices in four years, gets a new leader
Lee esta historia en español. City Manager Spencer Cronk has chosen Shay Ralls Roalson to be the next director of Austin Water. Roalson, the first woman to hold the role, will replace the former leader of the city-owned water utility…
City Hall • By Becky Fogel, KUT • Dec 29, 2022
Despite drought, Austin Water still supplying raw water to golf course
Austin Water continues to supply the River Place Country Club with a combination of reclaimed water and raw water from Lake Austin to irrigate its golf course. “The amount and need for lake water is the sole discretion of River…
Water • By Nina Hernandez • Dec 16, 2022
Amid drought conditions, Austin Water proposes ways to slash water use in new homes
The average water use per year in new Austin homes is 28,000 gallons. But that could soon decrease with initiatives aimed at conserving water through landscape transformations and other efforts. Kevin Kluge, environmental conservation division manager of Austin Water, presented…
Development • By Andrea Guzman • Nov 23, 2022
Austin is looking for a place to store massive amounts of water to pull from during droughts
Austin is planning a big underground water storage project that would provide the city with another source of water during droughts. But city planners are not sure exactly where to put it. This week, they’ll meet with residents of Lee,…
Water • By Mose Buchele, KUT • Oct 18, 2022
Austin Water safeguarding its facilities from wildfire risk
As Austin continues to grow, the city is expanding toward wildlands. This creates an increased risk of fire in areas where human development intersects with natural areas, known as the wildland-urban interface. Austin Water discussed its efforts to mitigate wildfires…
