From left: Michael Thane, David Freireich, Don Rundell, and Jeff Bell with the Outstanding Municipal Utility Award. Photo by Christy Justice.

On Jan. 27, the Texas Municipal Utility Association (TMUA) presented the City of Round Rock with its Outstanding Municipal Utility Award at the TMUA Annual Conference in Fredericksburg. This award honors municipal utility systems that are leaders in the industry.

In order to be considered for the award, nominees must meet at least one of the following requirements:

• Recognized as a leader in the municipal utility industry.
• Enhanced the prestige of all municipal utility systems.
• Made a measurable improvement to customer services.
• Developed innovative solutions to any utility problem.

Round Rock was selected as a recipient of the TMUA Outstanding Municipal Utility Award because of two projects that developed innovative solutions within the City’s utility: the pre-chlorinated pipe bursting project and the Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority (BCRUA).

Pre-chlorinated pipe bursting project
Since 2007, Round Rock’s water utility has been using the pre-chlorinated pipe bursting process to replace existing water mains. This trenchless process is popular in Europe but Round Rock was the first city in Texas to use it. Staff reviewed the engineering, design and construction considerations as well as regulatory guidelines for pre-chlorination.

This method of pipe replacement allows the pipe to be replaced much faster and with less disruption to the neighborhood. Crews do not need to dig out the water line and the water does not need to be turned off in the area for extended periods of time. Residents do not have to be without water for as long.

Since the first successful project in Greenlawn Place subdivision, the City has been systematically replacing asbestos-cement pipe using the pre-chlorinated pipe busting method. The program has been very successful. It received a Round Rock Innovations Award and a 2010 TML Excellence Award.

Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority
The Cities of Round Rock, Cedar Park and Leander created the Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority to design and construct a regional water system that will eventually supply 106 million gallons per day of potable water to its users. All three cities will ultimately need water from Lake Travis and this regional project will provide the facilities to access, treat and deliver this water to their customers. The regional water system means only one project is needed to meet demand rather than three separate projects for each city.

By working together, all three cities benefit their rate payers. The project is scheduled to be operational in the summer of 2012. It will help ensure that Round Rock’s future water supply is secure.

Congratulations to our Utility and Environmental Services Department!