Dripping Springs will apply for Texas Water Development Board funds for DPR pilot and ranch‑park rainwater system; city to pay $44,000 application fee

The Dripping Springs City Council voted May 19 to pursue Texas Water Development Board grant funding for two projects under a single application: an advanced water purification (direct potable reuse, DPR) pilot tied to the wastewater plant and a rainwater‑harvesting and arena cover project at Dripping Springs Ranch Park (DSRP).

City staff told the council that TWDB revised rules allow a single application to include multiple projects and that Carrillo/Carollo Engineers can prepare the application for a city cost of about $44,000 that would not be reimbursable by the grant. Staff said Carrillo agreed to include the DSRP rainwater scope within the existing contract price without an additional fee.

Ellie Sellers, Dripping Springs Ranch Park manager, described the park project as a new 180‑by‑280‑foot roof over an outdoor arena, paired with 400,000‑gallon rainwater tanks and a filtration system that would make roughly 90% of the collected water eligible for non‑potable uses and up to 10% potable use at the facility. Sellers said the total project cost is currently estimated at about $1.21–$1.23 million and that construction could begin quickly if grant funds are awarded.

Staff emphasized that the TWDB grant program has tiered caps tied to the number of potable customers; council heard that the minimum cap for the city would be $6 million under a straight reading of the rules but that conversations with TWDB staff could potentially move Dripping Springs into a higher funding tier by accounting for service area beneficiaries.

A DSRP board member who testified during public comment, Kathy Boydston, urged the council to forward the rainwater project, saying it would reduce potable water use and serve as a demonstration for other community facilities. "Covering the arena to collect rainwater will not only allow DSRP to be more self‑sufficient with water, but will allow them to reduce and potentially eliminate the use of potable water for many activities at this arena," Boydston told council.

Council voted to authorize the Carrillo contract, direct staff to submit both projects under one application, and to prioritize the two projects for TWDB if the board requires a single selection. Staff said a final application would be due in late July and that the city could call a special meeting if TWDB later asks the city to prioritize projects before the next regular council meeting.

The council’s action keeps both options on the table while preserving the city’s ability to negotiate project scope and funding tiers with TWDB staff. If awarded, the DPR pilot would build on a 2015 study and aim to develop a pilot test plan, procurement, construction and operation steps for treating wastewater to drinking‑water standards; the DSRP project would provide an immediate reduction in potable water use for ranch‑park operations and public programming.