Marble Falls Mayor Pitches Direct Potable Reuse as Water Solution for Growing Texas Hill Country

In the latest episode of The Building Texas Show, host Justin McKenzie sits down with Marble Falls Mayor John Packer to discuss the city's ambitious water recycling plans and how it is navigating growth in the Texas Hill Country. The episode, titled 'Marble Falls, TX: Close Enough to Austin, Far Enough Away,' was recorded lakeside with construction underway for a new lakefront hotel conference center connecting Main Street to Lake Marble Falls.

Packer, a small business owner returning as mayor after a four-year break, emphasizes water as the defining issue for Texas cities. Under drought pressure west of the dry line, Marble Falls is pursuing a three-pronged water plan that combines Highland Lakes surface water, a newly purchased well water system, and direct potable reuse from a relocated wastewater plant. 'If we draw over a million gallons of water outta the lake every day to make drinking water, and we produce roughly 800,000 gallons of wastewater, we can turn that 800,000 into at least 600,000 or 700,000 gallons of water. It's just a kind of a no-brainer,' Packer tells McKenzie.

Acknowledging that the concept 'makes people cringe a little bit,' Packer insists direct potable reuse is 'the future.' The city's plan is part of the One Water initiative, which includes a purple pipe system at the new wastewater plant. This approach is critical as Marble Falls deals with aging 1950s-era infrastructure and the realities of growth along Highway 281, a route stretching from Mexico to the northern United States that sees more than 35,000 vehicles daily.

The conversation also touches on operational challenges. Packer recounts how July 4th flooding turned Lake Marble Falls into 'chocolate milk,' quadrupling treatment cycle times for weeks. He explains that traffic nearly vanishes after 7 p.m., complicating TxDOT funding cases for the 281 and 1431 intersection and the Highway 71 corridor. The city coordinates with TxDOT, LCRA, TCEQ, and the county on these transportation issues.

Beyond water and traffic, Packer highlights quality-of-life investments like a built beach along a lake that can flood 18 feet, expanded trails and sidewalks, a popular skate park, and an Economic Development Corporation strategy that avoids financial incentive packages, focusing instead on business retention and facade grants. The city's approach to growth is deliberate, aiming to maintain its small-town character while accommodating new residents and visitors.

The episode underscores the broader implications for Texas communities facing similar pressures. As the Hill Country booms, Packer's message is clear: innovative water solutions like direct potable reuse are not optional but necessary for sustainable growth. The Marble Falls episode is available now on YouTube and wherever podcasts are heard.