DSWSC builds water tower, neighbors oppose

The Dripping Springs Water Supply Corporation (DSWSC) is currently constructing a 750,000 gallon elevated storage tank on its property on Hart Lane, near the intersection of Harmon Hills Rd and Bell Springs Rd. According to the DSWSC, the tank will be a composite tank similar to the DSWSC tank on Counts Estates Drive on the south side of town and the West Travis County Public Utility Agency tank on the right hand side of U.S. 290, as you enter Dripping Springs from the east.

“This tank will serve properties west of RR 12 and a small portion east of RR12 and north of HWY 290 including the Harmon Hills area which we currently don’t have service in,” Kyle Dannhaus said, DSWSC General Manager. “Dripping Springs is experiencing substantial growth and is anticipating this to continue for a period of time. The construction of this tank is necessary to serve the amount of connections we currently have and are expecting in the near future, primarily because of TCEQ regulations on storage tank, pump and infrastructure.”

Some Harmon Hills area neighbors, like Alan Barber, however, are not pleased with the location choice for the tower.

“We have this giant water tower that’s going in the neighborhood and it’s almost as big as the one coming in from Dripping Springs and they’re putting that in a neighborhood. If you look at the one in Dripping Springs, there’s no houses around it at all,” Barber said.

Upon learning about the construction of the tower, some of the neighbors in opposition told the DSCN that they’ve asked the DSWSC to put the project on hold until it can be reviewed.

“The project is not currently on hold,” Dannhaus said. “DSWSC has requested and has received all necessary approvals, permits and notifications for the entities that we know have jurisdiction on this property or project. Those include the City of Dripping Springs, Hays County and TCEQ.”

Barber noted that neighbors believe that by building the tower on that property, the DSWSC may be in violation of deed restrictions.

“Our attorney is reviewing the deed restriction concerns,” Dannhaus said. Barber said neighbors are planning on going before the DSWSC board to voice their stance and possible litigation is not out of the question. “One of the neighbors affected by this is working with an attorney,” Barber said. He said that as a neighborhood, they could explore the hire of a trial attorney.

“I would be really surprised if there was a single neighbor that said ‘yes I want that huge water tower in there.’ For one thing, it’s going to affect the value of your property. I just think the whole neighborhood is going to suffer as far as their real estate values. I don’t think that it’s a plus,” Barber continued.

Aside from the construction of the water tower, Dannhaus said a water line will go in along Harmon Hills Road to serve the tank and any property owner adjacent to the line. “With this line, the DSWSC will be able to provide a reliable public water source to the Harmon Hills and Douglass Estates property owners who currently buy water from the DSWSC at its bulk station in the downtown area,” Dannhaus said. The project is expected to be completed in October of next year.