Water relationship with Tyler ends today

The City of Whitehouse and the City of Tyler have reached a stalemate in their attempts to negotiation a mutually satisfying wholesale water contract.

As of Nov. 1, according to a letter from Tyler's director of utilities and public works, "the City of Tyler will cease providing

potable water to Whitehouse. We regret this action, but as has been explained on multiple occasions over the past two years, Tyler cannot continue to provide service without a wholesale contract in place."

The letter from Greg Morgan goes on to say that although Tyler is terminating water service, it is not withdrawing its latest contract proposal.

The Oct. 16 offer did not meet with the approval of the Whitehouse City Council. A monthly demand fee of more than $19,000 plus a fee structure that increases the charge per 1,000 gallons of water whenever the city purchases less than 1.2 million gallons of water per day were features that council criticized at its Oct. 23 meeting.

Whitehouse has not had a wholesale water contract with Tyler for two years; its purchases during this time have been based on a $3.50 per 1,000 gallons of water flat rate charge.

As negotiations between the cities stalled, Whitehouse began pursuing other water resources such as well development and an interlocal agreement with the City of Troup for a plan to buy water from Lake Striker.

Whitehouse's well production has drastically reduced the city's water purchases from Tyler, with peak consumption in August of 2006 at 35 million gallons compared to just seven million in August of 2007. Although the city has purchased less water, Whitehouse officials are asking for voluntary water conservation; if necessary, mandatory restrictions maybe issued.