Department of Public Works

Water/Wastewater Department

Welcome to the Public Works Section of the City of Converse Home Page.  The Water/wastewater Department is responsible for maintaining uninterrupted clean, safe drinking water and collection of wastewater.  Our goal is to provide our Converse customers with responsive, courteous and professional services. To report any complaints, concerns, or just to check on upcoming projects, call us at the following numbers: Water/wastewater 658-3453 during our regular office hours of 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday.   Or you can contact the Water/Wastewater Department via e-mail at: cpublicworks@satx.rr.com for the office. Public Works Utility Manager, Lupe Perez at water-manager@satx.rr.com for Jonathan Smith, Water/Wastewater Foreman at water-foreman@satx.rr.com The Water/Wastewater consists of 18 employees that work hard to ensure the quality of our drinking water.  Public drinking water is provided from four deep wells located within the city. Last year we pumped over 463 million gallons to meet our customer needs. Our department has consistently met or exceeded the highest standards set by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), and we are very proud of our State designated "Superior" water system. The city adds fluoride to the water. This and chlorine disinfectant are the only two additives to the naturally pure aquifer water produced by the Edwards Aquifer and pumped throughout the city. To start, stop, or transfer water service, go to City Hall at 403 S. Seguin Rd. or call 658-1965 between the hours of 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday. Weekends and holiday emergencies can be reported to Converse Dispatch 210-658-2322 The city contracts with the San Antonio River Authority to treat wastewater. The department has repair crews that provide around the clock response to problems with water or wastewater lines maintained by the city.

As you all know, we are experiencing a severe drought in our area which is causing the ground to shift and water lines to break.  In the event your water pressure is low or you have no water, this could be the cause and we need your patience and understanding to enable us to make the necessary repairs to restore service to everyone.  If you experience low water pressure or have questions please call the Utilities Department between the hours of 8-5 Monday thru Friday except for Holidays at 210-658-3453.  If you experience no water after hours please call the Police Dispatch at 210-658-2322.

The Edwards Aquifer Authority, in an effort to delay the need for mandatory restrictions on pumping from the aquifer, is urging water users across the region to heighten conservation measures to help counter the effects of a continuing drought.  Without measureable rainfall, Authority officials project that stage I of the region’s critical period management plan could be declared within weeks, based on the declining rate of springflow at the San Marcos springs.

The San Marcos Springs are one of three indicators identified in the Edwards Aquifer Authority Act to gauge aquifer conditions and to trigger various stages of the critical period management plan for the San Antonio Pool of the Edwards Aquifer region.  Currently, the other two indicators – water level as measured at the J-17 Index Well in Bexar County and the rate of spring discharge at the Comal Springs – have not yet dropped to critical period trigger levels.  However, on Thursday, January 15, the 10-day average of rate of springflow at the San Marcos Springs was 97.8 cubic feet per second (cfs), less than two cfs from the stage I trigger point of 96 cfs.

Citing rainfall amounts well below the historic norm across the region for 2008, Authority officials estimate that sprinflow at San Marcos Springs could drop below the 96 cfs trigger by the first week of February, which would necessitate the declaration of stage I.  Under stage I municipal, industrial and agriculture users must cut their pumping from the aquifer by 20 percent.  Stage I for the San Antonio Pool applies to all Edwards Aquifer groundwater permit holders within Atascosa, Bexar, Caldwell, Comal, Guadalupe, and Medina counties.  However, the Authority believes voluntary conservation now could help delay the mandatory cutbacks

2007 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report

Stormwater Operations

Department of Public Works

The Street Department consists of the streets, parks, and grounds departments and maintains the city streets, parks, right of ways and brush chipping. The City of Converse has over 160 lane miles of streets that are maintained by city staff. The Street Sweeper usually comes out on a monthly basis, and during peak times, up to twice monthly. The Grounds Department has recently changed from weekly brush chipping to once a month brush chipping. You need to call City Hall at 658-1965 to be placed on the list in order for the brush to be collected, chipped and removed. There is a pile of mulch available to residents of Converse free of charge, contact City Hall for the nearest location. The Grounds Department is also responsible for maintaining the Right-of-Ways in Converse. They try to keep them maintained on a monthly schedule. The Parks Department is responsible for maintaining our two city parks and the municipal pool. In addition to the street maintenance described above city street crews work hard to repair sidewalks that are buckled, or sinking, or otherwise causing a tripping hazard. Storm water drainage ditch maintenance, all traffic control signs, asphalt cut and replace due to all water leaks, building maintenance, parking lot maintenance at all city owned buildings, street stripping, vehicle maintenance and equipment repair. To report any complaints, concerns, or just to check on upcoming projects for the Street, Grounds or Parks Departments, call us at the following numbers: 659-9513 during our regular office hours of 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday. Or you can contact the Director of Facilities, Karl Hoppes at street-director@satx.rr.com , or the Street Foreman Ruben Cuellar at street-foreman@satx.rr.com

STREET MAINTENANCE ANNUAL PROGRAM

Street Maintenance By Year

Street Maintenance Annual Plan Map

We currently try to Chip Seal 1 to 2 subdivisions per year as well as cut and patch failed areas. Sometimes the distress of the asphalt is not so bad that it needs to be totally replaced. When the asphalt is in good enough condition overlays are a good idea but high cost. Preventive maintenance is the best method by far and the most cost effective to do.

What is preventative maintenance?

Maintaining streets so that they never get to the point of major repair. This is no easy task, with the many miles of streets that are added each year. The old school of thought was to react to street failures, and send crews out to repair them, as they occur. The new school of thought is to seal coat as many streets as possible each year to prevent the need of costly overlays and rebuild. Anyway, why would you want to rebuild a street when you already have one? Maintaining what you have makes more sense in the long run, and saves money and allows for more streets to be repaired yearly.

What are the different types of preventative maintenance that can be done?

• 1)Crack Sealing
• 2) Chip Sealing)
• 3) Slurry Sealing
• 4) Micro Surfacing
• 5) Mill and Overlay
• 6) Rehabilitation.

Crack sealing - which streets are crack sealed? All streets, especially the ones that are planned for chip sealing, other surface treatments, all newer streets, to prevent storm water from entering the base layers of the streets causing pot holes.

Chip sealing - which streets are chip sealed? All streets that are not past this type of repair are scheduled for chip sealing on 7 to 10 year life cycles to avoid the higher cost of an overlay.

Slurry sealing – which streets are slurry sealed? Currently none, because of the long time for the street to cure for traffic up to 6 hours or more, also this work must be contracted out.

Micro surfacing – which streets are micro surfaced? Currently none, because of the long cure time 6 to 8 hours before traffic can enter back onto the street, and high cost specialized equipment is needed to perform this work and must be contracted out.

Mill and overlay – which streets are mill and overlay? Currently, only high traffic streets, and a selected few residential streets, that are more that 75% in rough condition, and show signs of bad alligator cracking, with chunks of asphalt coming up this work must be contracted out.

Rehabilitation, which streets are rehabilitated? Currently there are no streets that are being planned for this type of repair. This method must be contracted public works does not have the manpower and equipment for rehabilitation.

Additionally, all new subdivisions receive street inspections from the ground up to ensure they meet city standards and special projects as may be assigned.

Calls for service are put on a list of many tasks, much like going to the doctor's office. Of course, emergencies always come first.