By Don Bommer
Contributing Writer

Bexar Met Water District’s board of directors voted unanimously Monday to sell BexarMet’s Bulverde Hills water system with its 520 connections to Canyon Lake Water Service Company for $6.75 million.

Canyon Lake Water Service Co. will assume operations as soon as possible, said Lesley Wenger, a BexarMet board member.

“The agreement also resolves the issue of money owed to CLWSC by Bexar Met,” Wenger added, referring to more than $400,000 owed by BexarMet for water purchased from CLWSC.

Canyon Lake Water Service Co. General Manager Tom Hodge said the purchase agreement will need to be approved by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, which could take four to six months; however, he said it is possible they would take over immediately on an interim basis.

“It’s the assets owned by BexarMet that make the deal valuable,” Hodge said.

Canyon Lake Water Service Company is an investor owned water utility providing service to approximately 26,000 people through 7,420 connections in the Canyon Lake region of Comal County and southern Blanco County.

In May 2006, Canyon Lake Water Supply Co. was purchased by San Jose Water Co. of California and renamed Canyon Lake Water Service Co.

Canyon Lake Water Supply Co. became an operating entity in 1994 as a member-owned non-profit water utility, consolidating 46 separate ground water systems.

The CLWSC service area includes approximately 320 square miles within Comal County and southern Blanco County.

CLWSC and the city of Bulverde have been negotiating an agreement where CLWSC would provide a water distribution system to the city’s CNN.

“We are close to an agreement with the city to provide water service,” Hodge said. “This will certainly expedite matters. The acquisition of Bexar Met assets is in the best interest of the city. Canyon Lake Water Service Co. will be able to supply residential customers in Bulverde Hills as well as businesses along Texas Highway 46 and area school. It will also allow for possible expansion of services to other areas.”

Hodge said the acquisition of BexarMet’s assets would give CLWSC the infrastructure it needed to build a water distribution system for Bulverde.

“After the city’s relationship with GBRA fell apart, nothing was getting done,” he said. “So this acquisition will make it easier for us to eventually provide a water system.”

Bulverde Mayor Ray Jeffrey said he was happy with the sale agreement.

“I am very happy with the agreement between Bexar Met and CLWSC,” said Jeffrey. “It’s a positive thing for the city.”