By Ray Jeffrey
Bulverde Mayor

At long last, Bulverde’s water plans are back on track. We now have a regional water provider to help us meet the challenges presented by our limited water resources.

Without a regional approach to water service, our water needs have been served by a patchwork situation of individual wells and community wells drawing from our groundwater. Local groundwater will always be an important source of water, but alternate sources are needed to preserve our way of life and allow for continued growth.

For at least eight years, the city has recognized the need for a broader, more systematic approach to water service in our area.

In 2002, the city partnered with the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (GBRA) to create a water region in and around Bulverde. Delivery of water under the deal with GBRA has been stalled for several years, ever since a former City Council halted GBRA’s construction of a critical water tower in the city.

This impasse would have persisted indefinitely had it not been for the determination of Council Member Jim Binkley. When a significant new player, San Jose Water Co. entered the Comal County arena, Binkley went to work. With the assistance and cooperation of City Council and staff, he pressed for a solution that would satisfy both the community and GBRA. That solution was unanimously approved by Council at our most recent meeting. (See story, page 1)

San Jose Water Co.’s Texas branch, Canyon Lake Water Service Co., will soon begin operating as the regional water provider for a large swath of western Comal County. In addition to groundwater, it has access to a significant amount of Canyon Lake water which will benefit our growing community.

In the process, San Jose Water is compensating Bulverde for past expenses, and is relieving the city of significant potential liabilities, including a disputed $650,000 debt to GBRA. Most importantly, we now have a large, sophisticated water utility company with the expertise and means to address both short-term and long-term water needs for our region.

This new arrangement is not an immediate cure-all, but it represents real progress for our community.

In addition to the great work done by Councilmember Binkley, I would like to publicly recognize and thank Rich Roth, CEO of San Jose Water Co., and Tom Hodge, general manager of Canyon Lake Water Service Co., who have shown great professionalism.