June 26, 2012

Corix to take over water and wastewater utility operations

Smooth transition expected

On July 1, Corix Infrastructure Inc. will take over operation of 18 LCRA water and wastewater utilities. Beginning then, all customer service inquiries about the systems should be directed to Corix at 1-877-718-4396. Additionally, Corix Media Relations can be reached at 1-877-232-2128.

Corix has hired most of the LCRA employees who operated the systems for years. Customers should notice little change with customer service, billing or operations.

The systems involved are: Lake Buchanan Water System, Spicewood Beach Water System; Smithwick Mills Water System; Ridge Harbor Water System; Ridge Harbor Wastewater System; Paradise Point Water System; Sandy Harbor Water System; Quail Creek Water System; Camp Swift Wastewater System; McKinney Roughs Wastewater System; Alleyton Water System; Alleyton Wastewater System; Matagorda Dunes Water System; Matagorda Dunes Wastewater System; Lometa Water System; Lometa Wastewater System; Windmill Ranch Wastewater System; and Windmill Ranch Raw Water System.

Corix is a North-American focused multi-utility company that has more than 2,000 employees in 60 locations in the United States and Canada and owns and/or operates more than 220 water and wastewater utilities serving more than 600,000 people.

On March 30, LCRA and Corix signed purchase and operations agreements for Corix to buy the retail water and wastewater systems. The sale is expected to close not later than December 2013. Upon closing, Corix will take ownership of the systems. Prior to closing, Corix must apply to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for approval of the sale.

Between July 1 and closing on the various systems, Corix will operate the 18 systems listed above, but LCRA will retain ownership and rate-setting authority.

Operations at the Spicewood Beach water system will continue to include water deliveries by truck to support the system. The Spicewood Beach water system has been under Stage 4 emergency drought restrictions since Jan. 24 because water levels dropped in the wells serving the system due to the drought. LCRA and Corix continue to look for a long-term solution to the problem with the system’s wells, but water deliveries by truck will likely last at least through the summer.

Corix also is evaluating service options for water systems serving the Lake Buchanan area communities of Bonanza Beach and Tow Village and, depending on its evaluations, may acquire those systems under its agreements with LCRA.