BexarMet Board of Directors Approves Development Projects

The BexarMet Board of Directors voted to approve the following development projects across the District in its meeting on February 27, 2006:

• Increase of storage capacity in the Village Green water system (BexarMet District 6)
• Addition of 3 water wells to increase water supplies in the Stone Oak/Timberwood Park area (District 6)
• Upgrading mains and fire protection in the Meadowwood Acres area in western Bexar county with the assistance of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds (District 2)
• Construction of a new 16" water main along Mogford Rd. in south Bexar County (District 5)
• Upgrading water mains in the Marney Plaza area to upgrade fire protection and infrastructure (District 7)
• Relocation of a water main along Ansley Rd as part of a City of San Antonio reconstruction and drainage project (District 3)
• Replace existing asbestos concrete water mains with ductile iron mains in conjunction with the Bexar County Glen Subdivision Phase II roadway reconstruction project (District 4)

BexarMet's service area is not a contiguous formation of landscape across Bexar county.  BexarMet's districts are broken into isolated areas found in the northeast, far north, far northwest, west and south/deep south part of San Antonio and Bexar County.  BexarMet customers are found in Atascosa, Bexar, Comal and Medina counties.  BexarMet is also experiencing a tremendous amount of growth in its northwest, northeast and Stone Oak areas, requiring the District to prepare for the new waves of customers who expect superior water service.  Let's take a closer look at these projects.

The Village Green water system, composed of the Village Green and Woods of Fair Oaks neighborhoods is built over the sensitive and less productive Trinity Aquifer in far northwest Bexar county near Fair Oaks Ranch.  The current storage capability in the neighborhood needs to be expanded, prompting the Board to approve funding to enlarge two of the storage tanks in the system by adding tank rings to make the tanks taller and able to store more water.  This modification will provide more capacity to this area for the expected increase in consumption during the coming warm months.  Construction is expected to begin in the coming weeks.

For those living in the Stone Oak area, it is easy to see all of the new construction going on and the tremendous demand the area is placing on the infrastructure.  To help alleviate some of the water demands, the Board approved the construction of two public supply water wells to provide additional capacity in the Hill Country Village, Hollywood Park and Stone Oak systems, known as the Hill Country Water System at BexarMet.  The Hill Country System is currently the fastest growing of all of BexarMet's service areas. The new wells will be drilled at existing BexarMet facilities in the area.  The third new public water supply well approved by the Board will be drilled in the Timberwood Park to serve that area.  All three of these wells are scheduled to begin drilling within the next 2 months and expected to be complete by the end of the summer or early fall.

BexarMet is constantly looking to upgrade its older systems and a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) is opening the door for upgrades in the Meadowwood Acres system, located off of Montgomery Rd. in western Bexar County.  Upgrades include larger water mains and infrastructure to support fire protection and better delivery of water.  In order for to qualify for these grants, BexarMet must match the grant amounts with equal funds. This project is expected to begin within the coming weeks.

The construction of the new 16" water main along Mogford Road from Campbellton Rd. to US 281 in far southern Bexar County is increasing the capacity for the area in preparation for new water supplies from other well construction projects.  Parts of this project have already begun and construction will continue.

The project in the Marney Plaza area will replace 44 year-old 6" cast iron water mains with new 8" ductile iron water mains.  This will provide a needed increase in fire protection capacity for the area and provide stable infrastructure for the future.  Construction will begin soon on this southside-area project.

BexarMet is conducting required upgrades to water mains in association with city and county reconstruction projects as well.  The first project involves relocating a 16" water main, including 5 offsets as part of the City of San Antonio's Ansley Blvd. road reconstruction and drainage project.  This southside project is underway, and BexarMet's portion of work is scheduled to begin soon.

BexarMet's second project in conjunction with the Bexar County Glen Subdivision Phase II roadway reconstruction project is covering many needed upgrades.  This northeast-area project will replace 6" and 8" aging cement water mains with durable 8" ductile iron water mains.  This project is scheduled to begin soon.