Harlingen Water and Sewerage—A Brief History
Norman Rozeff, November 2010
1900 Jesus Saldana is part of the extended family operating La Providencia Ranch. It is located in Surveys 45 and 47 directly west of what will initially be Harlingen. The sendero opened in 1904, and which would become Harrison Street, runs a mile or so to the S. Saldana property. This is important because the ranch is a source of good water, a necessity the community still lacks. From the well on the ranch, water is hauled by the barrel until the canal reaches Harlingen in early 1908. The charge is 50 cents per barrel for this service.
8/17/07 Plans are made for starting the power house pumping plant to lift water from the river into the Harlingen Canal. A.R. Mann, a mechanical engineer from Chicago is engaged to take charge of the machinery. He is already in Harlingen. It was the discovery, in 1901, of oil at Spindletop that made feasible and expedited the pumps along the river, for this energy source was economical and readily available in contrast to ever-diminishing forestry products burned to generate steam.
9/3/07 A Brownsville Herald article promotes the Harlingen Developments. It reports "Beginning tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock, plots of the townsite and maps of the lands may be consulted at the office of J.S. Dougherty, Brownsville, where the opening sale is being conducted."
9/7/07 The Harlingen Canal pumps are scheduled to start. To keep an eye on this important operation Hill will have a telephone line strung about 18 miles from the pump house to Harlingen.
10/29/07 The Big Flume being built by the land and water company to convey water across the Arroyo Colorado is scheduled to be finished in 30 days. Its cost is projected to be $20,000.
1908 Likely in this year Harlingen has its first running water system. It is the Mooreland Lateral that comes from the main canal south of town and is then connected by a pipe to the Mooreland Hotel. The water entered a cistern tank from which it was lifted by a windmill pump to a water tower higher than the hotel itself. Two private baths run by a Mr. Prelir (?) and several public baths were then available. A bridge at Jackson Avenue straddled the water lateral there.
3/28/08 River irrigation water reaches Harlingen in the 11.5 miles of canal south of the community. The last stretch was across the arroyo on the flume. The newspaper notes that the canal was started 5/2/07 by Walter Vann, son of Capt. J.W. Vann, who is in charge. The one 24-inch pump is to be supplemented by two 36 inch ones, so up to 35,000 acres may be irrigated. Although Harlingen now has water, it still lacks water mains and other infrastructure for direct delivery of drinkable water to its residents. Cirilo Rodriguez would pump water from the canal near his residence at 802 W. Fillmore, settle it in large tin tanks, and then deliver the water by barrel to customers. At a cost of 50 cents per barrel, drinking water hauled from La Providencia Ranch water was fairly expensive.
4/10 The city fathers appropriate $5,000 for a city waterworks reservoir.
7/19/10
An election is held for the issuance of Water Works bonds whose amount is not to exceed $12,000. The thirty votes cast were all for the project, none against. The bond money is also supposed to cover the cost of smoothing of streets and building of bridges.3/24/11 Water from the Rio Grande comes via the canal into, what later will be named City Lake, a low place called a "chasco." It is also called by locals "Laguna Las Vacas" because cows of the village often wander into it only to become mired in its mud. The local canal branches from near Little Creek and runs north on 13th Street then west into the lake.
6/5/11 Dr. S.M. Briscoe is appointed to serve, without pay, as city's second health officer. He is mandated to abate the mosquitoes breeding in the stagnant water from broken pipes between City Lake and the ice plant.
1912 Built by the city, the first electric plant begins to operate and, together with the water works, has taken the expenditure of $20,000. From time to time it is leased to private operators but is constantly taken back due to poor management. The plant sometimes provides energy for up to two hours in the daylight hours and four at night.
The Harlingen Land and Water Co. is awarded a contract to provide river water to Harlingen's City Lake. When pumped by the city it is of substandard quality. This necessitates residents flushing the system on Friday mornings and boiling all water to be used for drinking.
6/8/12 A 50,000 gallon steel tank for Harlingen waterworks –largest in the Valley –on a concrete base is constructed; delivery lines are being buried. This black-painted tank is located in what is now the city parking lot at the southeast corner of 1st and Jefferson Streets. In 1915 the photographer Robert Runyon will use the tower's platform to take panoramic views of the city.
7/15 The town falls into debt by $6,000 and has to issue treasury warrants due 8/29/16. The salaries of all city officers and alderman are suspended for six months while a $2,000 loan is arranged for the needs of the Water and Light Department. It is decided to cut off those customers in arrears until a 10% penalty is paid. By September 11 another $600 loan is needed. By June 1917 there are more financial struggles as a result of the abandonment of many houses and the military camps with resulting loss of income.
7/21/15 The tax levies are: General Fund $.25 per $100; Water & Light Sink Fund the same; Street Int and Sinking Fund $.15 per $100.
1919 In this year the Harlingen Light and Water Plant while municipal owned was leased to private management. The plant was at the corner of Madison and Winchell (B) Streets. It was fed by a 10" wooden pipe from Lake Harlingen. From there two 500 gallons per minutes pumps would supply the town via a 50,000 gallon tank with an elevation of 120" at its bottom. The tower was at the site of the plant that also had a small 14' deep concrete reservoir. Built in 1912 this station supplied 16 miles of 4", 6", 8", and 10" pipe laid in 1912 and 1913. Connected also were 10 double fire hydrants. At the time the average consumption was 40,000 gallons per day.
2/21/19 The first proposal is presented for the paving of city streets and construction of a sewer system.
1/1/21 This month the City takes over the electric and water utilities and systems.
1/11/21 A $40,000 bond issue for street improvements passes along with another of $60,000 of Sewer Bonds. Both passed on a vote of 64 for and 10 against. Forty-four light posts had been erected and lights were on all night.
4/21 E.C. Bennett arrives. He will become Manager of the Water and Light District operated by the city. Born in Farmersburg, IN 9/29/90, he attends public schools. Married to Jennie Reed on 5/18/11, this First Methodist member is also a Mason and Shriner.
7/26/21 Citizens vote on bond issue of $120,000-- $40,000 for streets, $48,000 for sewers, and $32,000 for electric improvement.
1923 The city has an assessed valuation of $1,852,000, one mile of water mains, and 7.01 miles of sanitary sewers in its initial year with a system
.
1/8/25 The municipally–owned electric and water plant has made a $20,000 profit in 1924 according to City Treasurer W.F. McLeod. During the year 110 new electric hookups have been made and 91 new water ones.
1925 By mid-year the city has tax revenue valuations totaling $2,110,000, and an electric/water division worth $125,000.
0/23/26 The new $35,000 water filtration plant opens. It can handle up to 500,000 gallons in a 24 hour period.
3/22/27 A $400,000 bond issue is announced. On 4/27/27 it passes. Funds will be used to enlarge the city hall and jail, pave streets, improve water systems, and pay for the $100,000 (eventually $125,000) municipal auditorium.
11/4/27 Sixteen of the city's leading citizens take a full page ad in the Harlingen Star. They urge the city's sale of its water and light utility to CP&L for $1.25 million. On the books it is valued at $654,799.09. Revenues from its sale would reduce the city's public debt from $1,486,718 to $236,718.
11/11/27 With 768 votes cast, the sale of the city's electric plant to CP&L for $1.25 million is rejected by a margin of 180 votes.
1927 This year the light and water systems finally see a profit.
1928 The population has risen to 13,500. Twenty-four miles of paved streets are credited to the city along with 49 miles of sanitary sewers, 47 ½ miles of storm drains and 47 ½ miles of water mains. These include 21.79 of paved roads in the city including a 30' strip of concrete down Harrison Avenue.. This year a 12" cast iron water main is installed downtown.
10/30/28 The City holds an election to approve or reject the sale of the electric and water utilities systems to the Central Power and Light Company for $1,580,000 which represents the City's indebtedness on the plant. The sale is approved with the highest voter turnout ever at 1,143 giving 683 yes and 460 no votes.
In 1929 the system owned by CP&L received its water from Lake Harlingen with its capacity of about 45 million gallons. Its system was a combinationof gravity and direct pressure. For pumps it operated: 1 Fairbanks Morse 6" capacity 1000gpm; 1 Fairbanks Morse 5" 750gpm; 1 American Marsh 4" 500gpm; and 1 Fairbanks Morse 4" 500 gpm.Each was driven by an electric motor at the pump station at the corner of North Commerce and Madison. The water tower being constructed 100" above the business district (between W. Filmore and W. Pierce and South C and South B) would have a capacity of 150,000 gallons. There were about 15 miles of 4" to 12" water mains. For firefighting there were 96 double and triple hydrants. Dometic pressure averaged 55 psi while the fire pressure was 75. The city was consuming a daily average of 600,000 gallons.
1936 The city has 22 miles of paved street, 47 miles of storm drains, 51 miles of water mains, and 365 acres in eight city parks.
In 1941 as the Harlingen Army Air Field came into being CP&L was responsible for the water supply system. The Army had to construct its own sewerage and water filtration plants and also to obtain water rights to draw from the Rio Grande. The HAAF constructed a 1 ½ muillion gallon per day capacity filter plant and a ½ million gallon elevated tank to pressurize the system.
With a substantial boom in commercial and residential building during the war years the city decided, in 1945, to purchase the Municipal Water Plant and System from the Central Power and Light Company for $575,000. To finance this purchase the City voted and issued $850,000 in revenue bonds and to secure the bonds, a trust indenture or mortgage was given on the entire water system. The balance of the bond funds would be used for future system expansion. Following this the City enacted the necessary ordiances to comply with the Trust Indentures. The City Commission then created a Board of Trustees to take charge of the properties and management of the entire operations. The first board included J. Lewis Boggus, Hill Cocke, Sr., Earl Breedlove, and Mayor Hugh Ramsey. Gene McCullough was named recorder and attorney for the board.
City voters also overwhelmingly passed a $575,000 bond issue for needed city improvements including remodeling of the city hall, erecting a new fire station, storm and sewer extensions, etc.
1/5/46 The first hint of the closure of the Harlingen Army Air Field comes in an AP story noting it will be declared surplus, the last of four such bases in this area to be deactivated.
1/19/46 Marvin F. Runnion is employed as general manager of the Water System. Here 3 ½ years, he was a lt.col. serving as post engineer at the HAAF. He will start 2/10.
August 1947 The Water Board authorizes contracts for construction of a 400,000 gallon clear well at the Jefferson Street plant and an engineering study to enlarge the plant and distribution system. The Air Field Filter Plant is acquired by the city to maintain service to the airport and Le Moyne Gardens.
Wartime limitations on metals in any form were in force until 1948. This brought pressure on maintenance and expansion for the water utility. In 1948 the city's water consupmtion was 864,000 gpd. It would rise to 1,457,000 by 1953.
It was 1949 that the utility joined with three other governmental entities to bury the open canal along 13th Street and in front of the high school. On 4/22/49 Hill Cocke is appointed chairman of a seven-person steering committee for the proposed $80,000 project to eliminate the 13th Street Canal. Canal. A 5' by 5' concrete box flume with 10 million gpd capacity then fed into the stub canal going west to Lake Haringen.
The City operated the Air Field plant unchanged through 1949. In 1950 the Harlingen Water Board votes to spend $60,000 to improve seven system facilities. The daily capacity of the city's two water plants will be brought up to seven million gallons. The two reservoirs are the 36 acre one in the city and a 120 acre one located on the Harlingen All Valley Airport. A 16" main from the airport water plant is built to connect to the city one, and the airport one has its filtration capacity increased to 700,000 gallons per day.
The year 1950 saw the Harlingen census at 23,229 with 4,188 metered water customers. Total revenues had grown from $156,371 in 1946 to $269,850 in 1950. Operating income rose from $66,692 to $125,610 while operating expenses grew from $89,410 to $114,240.
Bond payments averaged about $53,000 a year for this period. The net available operating income therefore was $13,769 in 1946 rising to $66,389 in 1950. In 1951 plans were to erect a 300,000 gallon filtered water tank.
With a prolonged drought hitting the LRGV region and depaleting its two major reservoirs in the years 1951-1953 and a hard freeze occurring in 1951, damages and shortages raised concerns. New sources of potable were sought and developed.At first 62 shallow 2 inch wells were drilled adjacent to the City Plant and the air field. Water use was restricted, and no lawn watering was allowed. In 1951 on a 25 acre tract at Rangerville, a 170' 16" diameter well fitted with an eight inch pump was put into production. It generated about 1000 gpm. In 1953 two more wells were dug on the same tract and then three more wells on the H. D. Seago farm. These latter had an output eacjh of 1 1/2 million gallons per day and fed into the Harlingen Main Canal.The total supplemental water from wells reached 9 million gpd. The emergency cost for them was $78,000, but they were never used after Falcon Lake Reservoir levels improved.
11/3/51 300,000 gallon filterd ater tank to be built.
It is in 1952 that a city election authorizes the issuance of revenue bonds to fund the expansion of the water system. The original bond issue of 1945 was refunded ($811,000) in order that an additional $575,000 of bonds be issued. With the reactivation of the miltary air base the City supplies it with 1 ½ million gallons of water per day. By 1953 the Water Plant's expansion plans are completed adding 2 million gallons per day to its old 4 million capacity.
1954 The Water Board purchases 52 acres of land in the Rangerville area in order to obtain more water rights. Lake Harlingen's 30 million gallon capacity, a three-day supply, was considered inadequate, so engineers were hired to make recommendations.
1955 The Water Board purchases 94.34 acres on South Dixieland Road from Mr. and Mrs. Clayton Prichard at $500 to 550 an acre. In 1964 it will purchase an adjacent five acres from A. D. Ross for $1000 an acre. These parcels will serve as a city water reservoir.
1956 Once again the city citizens approve funds for water system improvements, this time for $750,000. This will increase the downtown plant's capacity by 3 million gallons per day bringing it to 8.7 million.The estimated cost for this is $420,000. $210,000 is to be expended to bring a 16" line to the Dixieland site. The Board adopted a new policy for developers to pay the cost for main extensions to new subdivisions.
1958 The City Water Plant addition is constructed and put into service. Indications are that a pumping station will be needed at the Dixieland Road site.
1/3/60 A new sewerage treatment plant is being constructed near the Arroyo Colorado at Taft just south of Commerce.
5/20/60 The city water works announces plans to build a 90 acre reservoir to serve West Harlingen. This will later be adjacent to Dixieland Park.
6/17/60 At a cost of $481,271 the second sewerage plant, this at the end of E. Harrison and about five miles from town, is put into operation with the addition of 4 ½ miles of piping. Its normal capacity will be 4 million gallons per day. Kenneth R. Caldwell is director of public works.
1961 An underground clear water well with a one million gallon storage capacity is constructed at the Dixieland Plant while a permit is obtained for the proposed area' off-channel reservoir. Initially the 66 acre-net planned reservoir will have a capacity of 950 acre-feet of water.Substantial water lines are installed to service the F Street and Ed Carey Drive areas.
8/8/61 Businesses on South 77 Sunshine Strip protest lack of city water and other utilities.
1962 The Harlingen Air Force Base closes and throws the city into an economic slump of major proportions.
5/18/62 The Expressways 77/83 interchange at the end of West Harrison is nearly complete. Fill for its elevated sections came from the new Water Works reservoir at Dixieland Park.
January 1964 Trustee Earl Davis dies. This is the first beak in the original trustees appointed in 1945. M.Day Young is appointed to fill the vacancy by the remaining trustees.
5/4/65 There is an investigation into the feasibility of building a saline water conversion plant. Costs of one million dollars for each 125,000 gpd capacity are much too high.
9/9/65 Mr. E. C. Breedlove retires after 20 years service on the Water Board. At age 75 he has reached the prescribed limit of tenure for a Board Trustee. W.A. (Bill) McBride is elected in his stead.
1965 The Water Board approves a contract with the State Highway Department for the latter to use Dixieland Reservoir excavation soil for the construction of HWY 83 and Spur 329. The Water Works is replacing the old cast iron pipes in its system at a rate of 12,000 feet per year.
12/2/66 After serving as chairman of the Water Board from 1945, J. Lewis Boggus dies. M. Day Young is then chosen as chairman and T. Howard Anderson elected to the board.
System assets at this time are $4,436,104. The city's share of a Valley-wide assessment to construct a waste water diversion canal in Mexico is $14, 868. The El Morillo Drain will subsequently remove considerable salinity from the Valley water source.
The year-end audit showed the assets of the system to be $4,436,104. This compares to $897,842 in 1946 when the city first took charge.
1967 Consulting engineers, Sigler, Clark and Associates submitted a report on the Dixieland facility. While the first unit would have a capacity of 6 mgd the ultimate plant capacity would be 24 mgd. The estimated cost was put at $1,970,000 not including the proposed elevated tank and large distribution mains.
This year a 42" concrete pipe installation was made on Jeferson to 7th Street and Lake Harlingen.
9/20/67 Hurricane Beulah wreaks havoc with its flooding. At its peak the Arroyo Colorado water gauge registers 43.3 feet elevation whereas flood stage is 28.0 feet. The city sustains major damage to its infrastructure. The water system loses mains across Rangerville Road. Two large Arroyo Colorado water pipe crossings were swept away. Numerous meters were inundated by flood muck.
11/10/67 Water bills sent out this date increase by an average of 21% over previous ones.
6/19/68 The water Board and City commissioners discuss lack of communications between the two entities.
7/26/68 Consulting engineers reprt that the city will need a new water palnt by mid-1972. The present downtown plant, even operating 50% above capacity, handles 8.6 million gallons/day while the Air Base one produces 2.25 mgd.
June 1968 Cloice Whitley is employed as assistant manager. He previuosly worked for the City of Garland water department.
9/17/68 Voters authorize $1 1/2 million in general obligation bonds, rather than revenue one, in order to complete the Dixieland water projects. Groundbreaking took place one year later. The total project cost would be $2,117,200, of which $878,100 would come from H.U.D.
6/1/69 Bids awarded for the Dixieland work are $1,819,662 for the water plant nd reservoir and $67,416 for pumps and motors.Groundbraking ceremonies are on 9/16/69. three days later the sale of $1.5 million in General Obligations Bonds is announced. The interest rate of 6.1535% was higher than anticipated. The city project cost will be $2,117,200 while a HUD grant towards this will be $878,100 thereby making the city net cost at $878,100.
7/1/70 Marvin F. Runnion resigns as General Manager of the Water System after serving 24 years in that capacity. Cloice Whitley is appointed the new manager.
3/71 The projected completion date for Dixieland is not met. A high rate filtration system instead of a sand one increase the rated capacity of the palnt from 2gpm to 5 gpm. The new palnt is able to produce 15 mgd. This is projected to suffice along with the other city production facilities until 1985.
1973 The east portion of City Lake is filled in and a new part of 6th Street is constructed to make it a thoroughfare.
11/7/80 Cloice Whitley general manager since 1972 resigns.
12/30/80 Water rates are raised 70 cents per 1000 gallons plus 12 cents fuel adjustment. This is the first raise in rates since early 1979.
1/21/81 The Waterworks Board requests a $200,000 loan for the next phase of the $1.2 million expansion of the wastewater plant.
10/23/81 City offers to acquire Stuart Place Water Corp.
11/19/81 With Richard Dixon as general manager the utility changes new development policy allowing developers to install lines then later receiving rebates on costs. Under the old policy developemnts inside the city were charged $100/actre or $20 per occupancy unit and outside the city limits $200 and $40 respctively.Under the new policy rates are $500 and $100 inside and $1000 and $200 outside.
1982 Plans are to replace 40 year old water mains in the center of the city. A 22" water main will be extended from Tucker Road along Garrett Road then down Palm Drive to its end. A 12" line will replace 2 and 3' lines.
8/20/03 WaterWorks used $3.4 million from reserves and cut $400,000 in personnel costs to balance mismanaged funds, losing $1.5 million over two years.
9/19/03 Board agrees to six month extention on $ 1 million loan from the Economic Development Agency as part of incentive package to Fruit of the Loom. Its plant is to close in December and its water usage by late October. The company owes the system $2.5 million.
10/28/03 Above-average summer and fall rains cut city water sales and put it into the red to the tune of about $500,000. The financially strapped utility is already hurt by the loss of Fruit of the Loom sales of $900,000 annually with the closure of this company's factory here. The utility had been loaned $1 million by the Harlingen Development Corp.
to build and later expand a reverse osmosis plant for use in Fruit of the Loom's fabric dye operation. This company owes the city $2.5 million and the $1 million may be tacked on.
11/4/03 HydroProcessing (Austin) failed $3.6 million sludge removal project today costs the city $120,000 a year to haul sludge to the Donna land fill.
12/19/03 The city files a suit to obtain the patent rights for HydroProcessing sludge remaoval system.
3/20/04 WaterWorks vice-chairman Eddie Medrano reports internal audit alledging mismanagement funds, losing $1.5 million over two years unbeknownst to board members. There were overcharges to customers and purchases of excess equipment.
4/24/04 there is no indictment of former WaterWorks general manager Cloice Whitley as there is insufficient evidence.
6/18/04 Board approves $470,000 funds to overhaul Dixieland facility.
6/23/04 General manager Ron Thomas says the financially strapped system may borrow up to $5 million.
8/13/04 Costs are $1.5 million over budget. Twenty-two employees who have retired since last year will not be replaced.
9/18/04 The water operation has been in the red for at least a year. It saved $425,000 by not hiring new employees after attrition of old ones. Threre is a proposal to cut $1.7 million from capital outlay budget as well as possibly reducing sick leave and vacation benefits for WaterWorks employees.
10/20/04 The sale of the Fruit of the Loom reverse osmosis equipment for $8,025 is rejected.
6/17/05 Dixieland expenditures over last year have revived this palnt's capacity, boosting it from 20mgd to 25 mgd.
12/1/05 New charges going into effect are: $1.47/1000gallons, on 10/1/07 $1.52 and on 10/1/08 $1.65.
1/10/06 In 1992 water rates were raised, now none for 14 years. Sewer rates were last raised in 1984. The system has been running in the red since the year 2000.
1/18/06 The sewer lift system at Victor Park is being overhauled.
4/2/06 Curtis Bonner of the board says its inventory levels have been cut 50%.
5/10/06 The WaterWorks runs a public relations fact ad in the Valley Morning Star.
7/18/07 A $90,000 contract was awarded to build a 16" transmission line along hughs Road and Tamm Lane. There is also a $355,835 Loop 499 gravity sewer line improvement project.
9/19/07 The 2007-2008 budget projects revenues of $18,571,420, expenditures of $17,241,079, and interest expense of $450,036.
10/12/07 On October 1 there was a rate increase. Commissioner Leftwich noted that 2-3 years ago the system's annual budget was $12 million and that adopted for 2007-2008 has risen to $18.5 million.
1/08 Wastewater Plant 1 on East Taft Street is shut down. Operations in this smelly plant were commenced in the 1940s. It only treated 2-3 million gallons per day of its five million/day capacity. Now the sole treatment operation, Wastewater Plant 2 on E. Harrison, is averaging 6 million of its permitted 9 million/day capacity.
1/18/08 General manager Ron Thomas resigns. His salary has been $109,988.
2/12/08 Acting general manger Darrell Gunn is about to be named general manager.
2/17/08 Commissioner Lefwich voicing his opinion in the VMS column "Another View" argues that the city should control the WaterWorks.
7/5/08 Leftwich asks for oversight and accountibility of the WaterWorks.
7/17/08 It is put forward that tenure of the board members should be evaluated.
8/21/08 Drought and shrinking heavy clay soils cause water line breaks.
3/17/09 Sewerage rates to rise.
3/24/09 A possible overcharge by the WaterWorks to the school district is brought to light.
9/9/10 The proposed WaterWorks budget has a projected $16 in revenues and $13 million of operating expenses.
9/19/10 Over time $40 million is thought required for plant and system improvements. $9 million this year will be expended on the wastewater plant and the two water plants.
!0/8/10 With six months reamining on his term Trustee Curtis Bonner is ousted by the City Commission. His immediate legal appeal is dismissed. Two other trustees had been removed in May.
10/16/10 The City Commission has questions on alledged WaterWorks board secret (?) amendments to budget line after Commission approval of the budget.
10/21/10 The Commission approves a utility probe to investigate the WW budget over the last three years.