Austin sewers supply more residents outside city limits

Recently, 30 homes in the Rolling Hills West neighborhood requested an extension of wastewater services to their homes. Although these residences are technically outside of Austin, they are located within the 2-mile extraterritorial jurisdiction that is on the edge of Austin’s full-service jurisdiction. On April 4, the Environmental Commission found it almost natural that city sewage services would be extended to this neighborhood. Without much ado and a city staff recommendation to support their decision, the commissioners approved this request with no questions and a unanimous vote. According to Andrea Bates, watershed policy manager with the Watershed Protection Department, homes that are reliant on aging septic systems are a great risk factor in contributing to water pollution. This, accompanied with the fact that these 30 properties are situated in a critical water quality zone that is part of the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone, propelled Bates to explain that for staff at the Watershed Protection Department, “the answer for this project is a resounding yes.” Once the homes are attached to city sewer lines, the septic tanks will be decommissioned according to Texas Commission on Environmental Quality rules. “It’s pretty straightforward,” said Chair Marisa Perales.