Bates Recital Hall
Resents Recent Campaign Commercial
RECEIVED Wed., June 8, 2011
Dear Editor,
I saw the recent television commercial put out by the Randi Shade campaign warning that Austin would not have enough treated water without Water Treatment Plant No. 4. The commercial used pictures of the recent fire in Oak Hill that damaged about 16 homes. Since mine was one of them, let me express exasperation with how desperate this council campaign has gotten.
On the day of the fire, April 17, Austin used 161 million gallons per day. (The day before, which was a cooler day, consumption was 155 million gallons per day.) Austin's water utility has 285 million gallons per day of capacity. Before the City Council prematurely retired the Green Water Treatment Plant, it had a capacity of 335 million gallons per day.
If I thought my house had been threatened with water capacity shortages, I would be at the head of the line in asking for new capacity, particularly after what I have been through. I might want to locate it somewhere other than the lake, but I would support a new plant. However, recent lower consumption patterns combined with more effective conservation programs can delay this half-billion plant by at least several years.
I resent the tragedy of my neighborhood being used in this manner. The Shade campaign should find other ways to make its points.
I saw the recent television commercial put out by the Randi Shade campaign warning that Austin would not have enough treated water without Water Treatment Plant No. 4. The commercial used pictures of the recent fire in Oak Hill that damaged about 16 homes. Since mine was one of them, let me express exasperation with how desperate this council campaign has gotten.
On the day of the fire, April 17, Austin used 161 million gallons per day. (The day before, which was a cooler day, consumption was 155 million gallons per day.) Austin's water utility has 285 million gallons per day of capacity. Before the City Council prematurely retired the Green Water Treatment Plant, it had a capacity of 335 million gallons per day.
If I thought my house had been threatened with water capacity shortages, I would be at the head of the line in asking for new capacity, particularly after what I have been through. I might want to locate it somewhere other than the lake, but I would support a new plant. However, recent lower consumption patterns combined with more effective conservation programs can delay this half-billion plant by at least several years.
I resent the tragedy of my neighborhood being used in this manner. The Shade campaign should find other ways to make its points.
Paul Robbins
