Inception and Early Growth (1988-2006)
On March 4, 1988, the Central Washington County Water Supply Corporation (CWCWSC) was incorporated for the purpose of providing clean water for both general farm use and domestic purposes. The jurisdiction of CWCWSC would be approximately 100 square miles of central Washington County.
In 1989, Washington County Commissioners Court authorized CWCWSC to install water lines within the right-of-way and under county maintained roads in the area. Construction began on the Berlin water plant in 1991, and right-of-way easements could then be obtained and filed by potential members to start receiving water from the corporation.
Construction began on the Longpoint water plant in July 1994. As the membership continued to grow, a third water well was installed on Hoddeville School Road. By November 1995, and CWCWSC provided water service to a larger area of rural Washington County, serving approximately 400 members.
From Volunteer to Contract Operations Management
Thanks to the efforts of many volunteers from the early 1990s through the mid-2000s, the water system was able to operate effectively and to expand. The contributions of these volunteers were essential to the success and growth of this organization.
In 2006, CWCWSC contracted with a professional firm (PGMS) to manage the water system operations.
Expansion (2015-Current)
The service area of Country Place Northwest was added to CWCWSC’s service area in 2015.
Electronic meters were installed in 2015; a website was created in 2016; and a GPS mapping system was installed in 2020.
Berlin Expansion Project:
In 2015, CWCWSC’s engineer O’Malley Strand Associates Inc. began a study for the expansion of the Berlin Water Plant. Recommended improvements included a new water well, standpipe and associated plant piping, along with additional distribution piping in the expected growth areas. The Board of Directors approved the expansion project in 2016 and began the process of funding through a loan application from the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB).TWDB approved and funded a loan of $2.815 million in September 2017.
The initial schedule estimated that the Berlin expansion project would be completed by September 2019. However, due to delays in the TWDB’s approval of the environmental documents, construction of the water well did not begin until May 2019. TWDB approved the construction documents for the remaining components in August 2019. Due to approval delays and cost increases, the bids exceeded the initial cost estimate and the approved construction funds by approximately 50 percent. Subsequently, the Board, working with the engineer and the low bidders, developed a reduction in project scope, eliminating the distribution line and revising certain design elements of the standpipe and plant improvements. This resulted in a cost reduction of $741,000, but still left a shortfall of approximately $100,000 to be funded from CWCWSC’s reserves.
Construction proceeded through the remainder of 2020 and continued through 2021 and into 2022. The contractor completed the expansion project in early 2022.
TWDB conducted final site inspection on June 28, 2022, and issued final Certificate of Acceptance on December 13, 2022.
TWDB issued Final Release of Escrowed Funds on January 23, 2023, and final payment was made to MWD Construction.
