Rotarians immersed in water talk
Mineral Wells Rotarians attending Wednesday's weekly luncheon heard about water on two fronts – Famous Water Company's new bottling and product advances and the city's plans to improve water service and reliability.
Famous Water Company co-owner and Rotarian Scott Elder updated the club on the company's new in-house bottling operations. The bottling plant is inside the former home of Crazy Water in the building many know today as the Texas Box Factory, two blocks north of the Famous Water Pavilion.
Famous Water is now being bottled and shipped not only in plastic bottles, but now in glass bottles to meet both customer demand for the product and to make the company more eco-friendly.
Also now on the market is Crazy Fizz – carbonated water. Elder said they are using their No. 3 mineral water and adding carbonation, which requires adding it through a chilling process where the water must be at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Elder said adding the carbonation does not diminish the mineral qualities of the water – it simply gives the water a bubbly fizz, as the name implies.
He said they are using the Crazy Fizz name in honor of a Crazy Water product offered around World War II in which mineral water and carbonation were combined and processed into tablet form – like an Alka Seltzer tablet – and sold to customers who could plop the tablet into a glass of water.
He said the company hopes to soon begin adding flavored waters such as lemon, strawberry or mint – also a market and customer request.
Crazy Water's popularity continues to grow, especially in the DFW and Austin metropolitan markets. Elder said the company hopes to host a public open house at the bottling plant in the near future.
Also speaking Wednesday was Mineral Wells City Manager and Rotarian Lance Howerton about the decision Tuesday evening by Mineral Wells City Council to construct a new water delivery service line along MH 379 from S.E. 4th Avenue to Airport Road, and adding two valve gates in locations along the main incoming water line that runs along S.E. 4th Avenue – the same line that failed Dec. 26, virtually knocking most of the city out of water for more than a day.
The two projects will help provide an improved loop delivery system so that, in the event of a similar main line failure in the future, public works crews can isolate the break and continue delivering water throughout the rest of the system – even if in a diminished capacity until repairs are completed.
Because of funding, the council opted not to move forward now with a proposed water line improvement project along Garrett Morris Parkway from MH 379 to Murco Road.
The two projects that were approved diverts monies from, and delays indefinitely, a project that would have added service capacity and delivery improvements on the west end of town by increasing a line from West City Park to S.W. 25th Avenue, which alone is an estimated $1 million project.
Howerton all the projects would not only improve water service and reliability in the event of a major line failure, but would also benefit the city in terms of attracting economic growth and development.
Howerton said the Garrett Morris Parkway and U.S. Highway 180 West water line projects could be included in a future capital improvements bond package, or council could determine other ways in which to fund and move forward with those projects.
Pictured holding plastic and glass bottles of Crazy Water No. 3, and the new Crazy Fizz, are, from left, club President Jimmy Walker, Howerton and Elder.
Rotary Club of Mineral Wells meets every Wednesday at noon at Holiday Hills Country Club for socializing, updates on club projects and a program of interest.