FORT CAVAZOS, Texas — Stage 4 water restrictions were lifted Saturday after a week of stringent water conservation measures and completion of two Bell County Water Improvement and Control District No. 1 projects. Completing the connections of a 5,000-foot replacement of a failing section of the 48-inch main pipeline and a new 3-million-gallon surge storage tank marked a turning point. Together, these projects not only remedied persistent problems but strengthened the region’s water resiliency against future emergencies.
Ricky Garrett, general manager of Bell County WCID No.1, explained how for more than a decade, a specific segment of the 48-inch concrete-steel cylinder pipeline had plagued operations with frequent and costly leaks.
“All the leaks … on the originally constructed 48-inch main, except for one, have occurred on this 5,000-foot section that is now out of service and is replaced with the 54-inch steel pipeline,” Garrett said. “From our experience and history of the leaks, we have essentially remedied that chronic issue.”
Garrett explained how a rupture on a concrete steel cylinder pipeline is often catastrophic, taking days to repair and rendering the line out of service. However, with a steel pipeline, if a leak occurs, it is minor and repairable while remaining in service, making future issues less disruptive.
Equally impactful was the addition of a 3-million-gallon surge storage tank alongside the two existing half-million-gallon tanks, tripling previous storage. Garrett added how this capacity ensures water availability during repairs or outages.
“Should we have a rupture in a part of the concrete line between the 54-inch (pipeline) and the surge tank, going forward, we would have 3 million gallons to help with supply while we address repair efforts,” he said. “Eventually, the two older half-million-gallon tanks will need to be taken out of service and replaced with another 3-million-gallon storage tank, which would further enhance reliability and sustainability.”
While the engineering was critical, the human factor was equally vital. The project’s success stemmed from the professionalism and shared mission of all involved — Fort Cavazos and city personnel, engineers, contractors and water plant staff.
“People in this field often feel a sense of calling,” Garrett shared. “It’s not just a job. When critical work like this arises, people go the extra mile — because they know what’s at stake for the community.”
Many might imagine restoring water service is as simple as turning a valve or flipping a switch. But Rosie Montalvo, operations manager of Bell County WCID No. 1, explained the water restoration process is far more intricate.
“This is not easy,” Montalvo said about the restoration process. “It’s a lot of factors and components that form a system. You need to add chemicals, activate pumps, manage energy — it’s not like turning on a light.”
Reintroducing water into the pipeline requires a carefully sequenced process. Personnel must be staged at critical points along the system. Valves, some requiring as many as 175 turns, must be operated with precision to avoid pressure surges that could damage the infrastructure.
“You have to start filling the pipe slowly because if not, you can create a surge and break the pipe,” Montalvo explained. “And then you have to measure the chlorine at different points to ensure the water quality meets the standards needed to distribute it to the people.”
The technical accomplishments achieved during the installation of the new pipeline were matched by teamwork across Fort Cavazos, municipalities and organizations. Daily operations staff worked behind the scenes, monitoring tanks, maintaining pressure and managing alerts. Montalvo added the willingness of the public to conserve water during the restriction period was vital.
“If not for the consideration of the people, we probably wouldn’t have made it through those four days,” she emphasized. “Because of their efforts, we had the pressure and the water to keep everything moving.”
That sense of mission was also mirrored by Fort Cavazos and city leaders who provided clear, consistent communication during the most critical periods.
“On critical projects like this, the more people you involve who are affected or part of the solution, (the more stakeholders) need to be brought in and communicated with to better understand exactly what is going on,” Garrett said. “The coordination and collaboration between the impacted communities was outstanding and critical to achieve the water use reduction we had.”
With the projects completed and Stage 4 restrictions lifted, Fort Cavazos, along with Texas cities Killeen, Nolanville, Copperas Cove and Harker Heights, returned to normal water use Saturday with the assurance the system is stronger and more resilient.
Stage 1 Water Conservation: May 1–Oct. 1
As Fort Cavazos moves into the summer, the community is reminded to continue its commitment to conservation. Annually, Fort Cavazos implements Stage 1 of its Water Conservation and Drought Contingency Plan, beginning May 1 until Oct. 1, to support the installation’s water and energy conservation programs.
The goal of Stage 1 is to reduce the daily water usage by at least 5%, and requires all Soldiers, civilians and contractors who work or reside on Fort Cavazos to implement the following conservation measures:
• No watering of any type of landscaping between the hours of 11 a.m.–6 p.m. daily. No water runoff allowed from areas being watered.
• Minimize the use of water for irrigation of landscaping and vehicle washing, and do not waste potable water.
• No use of potable water to wash driveways, sidewalks or buildings for general cleaning.
• Report all water leaks to Directorate of Public Works at 254-287-2113.
Exceptions may be authorized by the director of Public Works or garrison commander for certain activities (e.g., spill response, contract actions, etc.).
For more information about water conservation tips, visit homeadmin.army.mil/cavazos/units-tenants/Garrison/DPW/water-conservation.
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