Lubbock water (Amarillo, Pampa, Levelland: apartment, how much, buy)

[teatime]

My son and his girlfriend moved into a new apartment and one of the first things they did was buy a Brita water filter thingy. I asked them why and they said the water in Lubbock is contaminated and disgusting, that the city has to provide bottled water to families with children because the quality is so bad. Is this true, or are my young people exaggerating?

[elvalle_mayne]

Kind of true. But then again I used to drink out the water hose (I grew up in a border town haha). So to me it's not that big a deal but I guess if your used to drinking a higher quality water then by all means get the filter system if thats what you want. But I honestly dont think it makes that much of a difference.

[shoe01]

Check the utility's web site. It should list the impurities versus the federal standard.

[case44]

I've got some news you might be interested in.

Look. Lubbock water supply project approved, may ease pressure on rising prices | AVALANCHE-JOURNAL

[lilypad]

I would never drink from the tap here. And get my drinking water from a company which delivers. But am particular anywhere I go, not just Lubbock.

[flatlander92]

I would not go so far to say the water is contaminated, but it does taste terrible. Even though there is the Ogallala Aquifer right beneath our feet, we pump water from Lake Meredith, north of Amarillo. About ten years from now, we will get water from Lake Alan Henry. The water there does not have the mineral content our water does now, so hopefully it will taste better.

[wade_word]

That area could use a few more lakes, but what's holding them back is it's just too arid up there. It's too bad they can't have one near Levelland or something. I thought I heard that they were channeling from springs further south from Alan Henry. Isn't that going to be going on, anyway?

[JamesAbilene]

Pampa is also on Lake Merdith water. My entire family up there has water delivered for drinking purposes. I don't think the Lake Meredith water is that bad, but my family prefers other water for drinking and cooking. I suppose as Lake Meredith is drying up the water will get more salt and mineral content. If anything stops the dynamic growth of Lubbock, it will be the water supply.

[case44]

They can no longer rely on Lake Meredith. If they have to tap in to three or four other places, then that's what they should do. I wouldn't mind if they looked at New Mexico's water, as well. Unless there is adequate rain falling in the Panhandle, I'd leave Lake Meredith to Amarillo and, right now, just get a supplement to the pipeline from Lake Alan Henry.

What about the Fort Stockton/Alpine area springs? Do you folks know about those? How much water do you think is supplied there and can it be used north of there?

[lilypad]

Is there a website that gives information on water available in the Panhandle?