Panhandle Runs on Water: City of Borger plans to pump more groundwater to support industry
In this week’s Panhandle Runs on Water, ABC 7 News looks at how the city is planning to pump more groundwater to support the existing industry and new companies who are targeting Borger. (ABC 7 Amarillo-Drew Powell)
BORGER, Texas (KVII) — The city of Borger sells around 85% of its water to four industrial customers. A significant amount of water compared to regional cities is similar in size.
In this week’s Panhandle Runs on Water, ABC 7 News looks at how the city is planning to pump more groundwater to support the existing industry and new companies who are targeting Borger.
“Right now we have the capacity to add about five million gallons a day of water supply if needed,” said Garrett Spradling, city manager.
The need for additional water is coming in the future. An increase in demand is coming from the city’s current industrial customers.
“With water use increasing its time to add two additional wells,” said Spradling. “This way we can rest some of the others and meet our ongoing water demands from our industrial customers.”
Spradling tells ABC 7 News that they're getting ready to expand the northwest wellfield one of five sources where the city gets its water from.
“The northwest wellfield was actually originally designed for up to ten million gallons per day,” said Spradling. “Were at about four million gallons per day right now and it was built out to five million gallons per day.”
“Our city is kind of constantly looking forward at what the current needs are today and what future industry may require,” said Katie Lingor, executive director of Borger, Inc. “Investing in additional water rights and water infrastructure just ensures we retain the businesses that we do have and attract additional businesses that may need those resources as well.”
Lingor tells ABC 7 News that helping to drive up demand for water is the prospect of new companies – adding Borger checks many of the boxes for what new industry requires, low-cost electricity and accessible water supply.
“Although we do have water it’s not an endless amount of water so it’s going to take responsible development,” said Lingor. “Attracting greener energy users will be an important part of our future strategy and diversifying our local industry with greener type energy users.”
That can help build on the industrial foundation the city already has in place.
