Residents urge Llano City Council to prioritize water repairs amid reports of brown water and limited testing

Residents pressed the Llano City Council on water quality during the public-comment period, saying brown water and the city's testing procedures undermine public confidence.

"The water is actually turned on and run for a long time before they actually take any samples," Rick Kirkhoff told the council, arguing that sampling locations and pre-sample flushing obscure true tap conditions for neighborhoods south of the river and east of Ford Street. Terry Schroth told the council the city had "received over $15,000,000 in loans" for water infrastructure in the past decade and asked where that money went.

Kirkhoff described mapping the city's 30-plus indexed sampling stations and said only three cover his neighborhood area; he urged the city to include samples immediately upstream of residential water meters and to address aging mains and service lines. Bob Veil and Linda Stevens also urged the council to prioritize water projects over other spending categories funded by the EDC.

City Manager Finlay and staff responded in the budget discussion, listing water projects included in the current budget package: staff described roughly $800,000 earmarked for water quality projects plus an additional $100,000 they said is available to support water-quality needs and infill housing initiatives. Finlay also reported the city submitted a Texas Water Development Board water infrastructure grant application on July 30 and received a receipt for the submission; notification of awards is expected this fall.

The council did not adopt a new water-specific ordinance at the meeting; residents' comments were taken under public comment and will inform council budget decisions and upcoming joint meetings with the EDC.