As the Texas Hill Country experiences rapid growth and ongoing drought conditions, Marble Falls Mayor John Packer is championing one of the region's most ambitious water recycling plans. In a recent episode of The Building Texas Show, Packer outlined the city's strategy to address aging infrastructure and increasing water demand through a three-pronged water plan that includes direct potable reuse—often referred to as 'toilet-to-tap'—a concept he describes as a 'no-brainer' for Texas's future.
The episode, titled 'Marble Falls, TX: Close Enough to Austin, Far Enough Away,' was recorded lakeside with construction underway in the background. Host Justin McKenzie and Mayor Packer covered a wide range of city-building topics, including a new lakefront hotel conference center under construction, the Economic Development Corporation's focus on business retention and facade grants rather than financial incentives, and coordination with TxDOT, LCRA, TCEQ, and the county on major transportation corridors like the 281 and 1431 intersection and Highway 71.
However, water emerged as the defining issue. Packer explained that the city draws over a million gallons of water from the lake daily to produce drinking water, while generating roughly 800,000 gallons of wastewater. By treating that wastewater, the city could recover at least 600,000 to 700,000 gallons. 'It's just a kind of a no-brainer,' he said, though he acknowledged the concept 'makes people cringe a little bit.' He insisted, 'it's the future.'
The city's water plan combines surface water from the Highland Lakes, a newly purchased well water system, and direct potable reuse from a relocated wastewater plant. This approach is part of a broader strategy to secure water supplies as drought pressure mounts west of the dry line. Packer noted that the July 4th flooding turned Lake Marble Falls into 'chocolate milk,' quadrupling treatment cycle times for weeks, underscoring the vulnerabilities in the current system.
Beyond water, Packer highlighted quality-of-life investments, including a built beach along a lake that can flood 18 feet, expanded trails and sidewalks, a popular skate park, and a partnership in the One Water initiative tied to the new wastewater plant's purple pipe system. He also discussed the operational realities of growth, noting that more than 35,000 vehicles cross through town daily on Highway 281, a route stretching from Mexico to the northern United States. Yet traffic nearly vanishes after 7 p.m., complicating TxDOT funding cases.
The Building Texas Show, hosted by Justin McKenzie, travels the state interviewing mayors, business owners, and civic leaders shaping Texas communities. Each episode highlights the people and projects building the future of Texas, from small Hill Country towns to major metros. The Marble Falls episode is available now on YouTube and wherever podcasts are heard.
