Today, two Stillhouse Hollow pumps - installed with 26 miles of water line to Lake Georgetown in 2004 - are pumping around the clock. Georgetown, Round Rock, and two other utility districts use that water.
The Brazos River Authority had planned to install the new pumps by 2011. But this week it said construction would begin this spring and be complete in fall 2010.
“We currently have two pumps at the lake that move about 27 million gallons per day,” Brazos River Authority spokesman Matt Phillips said on Thursday. “They’re maxed out. We will need to move more water out of that reservoir (Stillhouse) over into Lake Georgetown in the future to meet projected needs.”
Phillips said he didn’t expect the two new pumps would have a significant effect on Stillhouse Hollow Lake levels.
“Overall, I don’t know that the effect will be major. Right now, Lake Stillhouse Hollow is 90 percent full,” Phillips said.
Lake Georgetown this week dropped to 23 feet below its normal level. It continues to drop 1 foot per week.
Phillips reiterated the river authority position that Lakes Belton and Stillhouse Hollow were built primarily for water supply. Recreation is secondary.
The new pumps will sit beside the two existing ones at a spot reserved for them years ago.
“One of the things to remember, with regards to the new pumps and them being brought on line … this isn’t something new,” Phillips said. “This has always been anticipated. That’s why the intake has those two empty slots. It’s always been anticipated that the new pumps, or additional pumps, would be added. That’s always been part of the overall plan for supply water to the Bell and Williamson county area.”
Although the Brazos River Authority sells and delivers water from Stillhouse Hollow and Lake Belton, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers maintains the lake parks and operates such things as floodgates and water pumps.
Stillhouse parks manager Dan Thomasson said he didn’t expect to see an immediate effect on the lake next fall when the two new pumps start sucking water out of the lake.
“I don’t think initially, you would see double the rate of fall. I’m not sure that would be called for,” Thomasson said. “It really depends on what the demand is in Williamson County. We’re pumping about 28 million (gallons) a day to them now. As far as I know those agencies are getting all they need. “
Stillhouse Hollow Lake on Friday was 4 feet below normal.
Brazos River Authority implemented Stage 2 water restrictions for its users out of Georgetown Lake this week. This means it is asking for voluntary curtailment of water use.
