April 19, 2022: Press Release – Joshua, TX
The JCSUD Board of Directors met on Tuesday, April 19, 2022, at 4:30 PM.
The Board of Directors adopted the 2022-2027 Water Conservation and Drought Contingency Plan. Per Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), the District is required to update the Water Conservation and Drought Contingency Plans every five years. The Water Conservation plan outlines a strategy or combination of strategies for reducing the volume of water withdrawn from a water supply source, reducing the loss or waste of water, maintaining or improving the efficiency in the use of water, for increasing the recycling and reuse of water and for preventing the pollution of water. The Drought Contingency Plan's purpose is to protect, preserve public health, welfare and safety, conserve the available water supply in times of drought and emergency, maintain supplies for domestic water use, sanitation, and fire protection, to minimize the adverse impacts of water supply shortages and emergency water supply conditions.
The Board of Directors approved a 90-day lease on Dewatering Equipment (Belt Press) for the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). Currently, the WWTP uses dewatering boxes to dewater the sludge produced from the plant. Due to more stringent requirements from the landfill, the District has experienced issues and cost increases in disposing of the sludge produced from the plant. Jeremiah Bihl, P.E., District Engineer, and James Lyles, Wastewater Manager, proposed a 90-day “pilot test” for dewatering equipment to determine if a belt press is the appropriate permanent solution to handle wastewater solids. The belt press scenario has an estimated cost savings of $3,255 a month to the Wastewater Operational budget.