Marble Falls Mayor John Packer is championing a controversial water recycling approach—direct potable reuse, commonly known as toilet-to-tap—as a necessary solution for the Texas Hill Country's booming population and persistent drought. In the latest episode of The Building Texas Show, titled "Marble Falls, TX: Close Enough to Austin, Far Enough Away," Packer discussed the city's ambitious infrastructure plans with host Justin McKenzie.
Packer, a small business owner and returning mayor after a four-year break, framed water as the defining issue for Texas cities. "If we draw over a million gallons of water outta the lake every day to make drinking water, and we produce roughly 800,000 gallons of wastewater, we can turn that 800,000 into at least 600,000 or 700,000 gallons of water. It's just a kind of a no-brainer," he said. The mayor acknowledged the concept "makes people cringe a little bit," but insisted, "it's the future."
The city's three-pronged water plan includes using Highland Lakes surface water, a newly purchased well water system, and direct potable reuse from a relocated wastewater plant. This strategy comes as drought pressure mounts west of the dry line, making traditional water sources increasingly unreliable. The reuse system would convert treated wastewater into drinking water, significantly augmenting the city's supply.
Beyond water, the episode covered a range of city-building topics. Marble Falls is constructing a new lakefront hotel conference center connecting Main Street to Lake Marble Falls. The Economic Development Corporation focuses on business retention and facade grants rather than incentive packages. Packer also highlighted coordination with TxDOT, LCRA, TCEQ, and the county on key intersections along Highways 281 and 71.
Packer addressed the operational realities of growth, noting that the July 4th flooding turned Lake Marble Falls into "chocolate milk," quadrupling treatment cycle times for weeks. He also mentioned that over 35,000 vehicles cross through town daily on Highway 281, yet traffic nearly vanishes after 7 p.m., complicating TxDOT funding cases. Quality-of-life investments include a built beach, expanded trails, a skate park, and a partnership in the One Water initiative tied to the new wastewater plant's purple pipe system.
The episode is part of The Building Texas Show, hosted by Justin McKenzie, which travels the state interviewing mayors, business owners, and civic leaders. The Marble Falls episode is available on YouTube and wherever podcasts are heard. For more information, visit the show's page at YouTube.
