Reverse osmosis plant put on hold after rainfall.

After rainfall boosted Lake Palo Pinto in Texas, US to almost 30% capacity, officials at the city of Mineral Wells have elected to delay completion of a reverse osmosis facility for at least 12 months.

City manager, Lance Howerton said the current water rate structure, increased by 60% in January to pay for the reverse osmosis facility, will remain in place to cover the some US$ 3 million in construction costs already incurred by the water district. Construction on the reverse osmosis plant began April 2 with digging of solid waste lagoons.

According to the Palo Pinto County Municipal Water District 1, the rise of about eight feet gives the city about 14 months of water, Howerton said, “assuming we continue with our current water use restrictions.”

Lake Palo Pinto was at 29.4 percent capacity April 30, up from 9.1 percent at the beginning of the month, according to the Texas Water Development Board’s Water Data for Texas. The National Weather Service has predicted a wet May and possibly a wet June. May is the wettest month of the year in the region during normal rainfall periods.