Marble Falls Mayor Bets on Toilet-to-Tap Water Reuse as Texas Hill Country Booms
On The Building Texas Show, Marble Falls Mayor John Packer details a direct potable reuse system that will recycle 800,000 gallons of wastewater per day, a new lakefront hotel conference center, and an economic development strategy that skips financial incentives.
Marble Falls, TX (Newsworthy.ai) Monday Jun 8, 2026 @ 1:00 AM CDT
The Building Texas Show — Marble Falls, TX: Close Enough to Austin, Far Enough Away | Building Texas Show
Photo: Justin McKenzie
“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.”
The latest episode of The Building Texas Show, titled Marble Falls, TX: Close Enough to Austin, Far Enough Away, published May 26, 2026, features host Justin McKenzie in conversation with Marble Falls Mayor John Packer. Recorded lakeside with construction underway in the background, the episode digs into how a small Hill Country city on Highway 281 is navigating Central Texas growth, aging 1950s-era infrastructure, and one of the most ambitious water recycling plans in the region. With drought pressure mounting west of the dry line, Packer makes the case that direct potable reuse is not optional for Texas's future.
McKenzie and Packer cover a wide span of city-building topics drawn directly from Marble Falls' current agenda:
The Building Texas Show — Marble Falls, TX: Close Enough to Austin, Far Enough Away | Building Texas Show
Photo: Justin McKenzie
“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.”
- A new lakefront hotel conference center now under construction, connecting Main Street shops and restaurants to Lake Marble Falls
- An Economic Development Corporation strategy that largely avoids financial incentive packages and focuses on business retention and facade grants
- A three-pronged water plan combining Highland Lakes surface water, a newly purchased well water system, and direct potable reuse from a relocated wastewater plant
- Coordination with TxDOT, LCRA, TCEQ, and the county on the 281 and 1431 intersection and the Highway 71 corridor
Packer, a small business owner of more than 20 years and a returning mayor after a four-year break, frames water as the defining issue for Texas cities. On the proposed reuse system, he tells McKenzie: "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 acknowledges the concept "makes people cringe a little bit," but insists, "it's the future."
The conversation also surfaces the operational realities behind growth. Packer recounts how the July 4th flooding turned Lake Marble Falls into "chocolate milk," quadrupling treatment cycle times for weeks. He explains that more than 35,000 vehicles cross through town daily on 281, a route stretching from Mexico to the northern United States, yet traffic nearly vanishes after 7 p.m., complicating TxDOT funding cases. Packer also highlights quality-of-life investments: a built beach along a lake that can flood 18 feet, expanded trails and sidewalks, a popular skate park, and a partnership in the One Water initiative tied to the new wastewater plant's purple pipe system.
About The Building Texas Show
The Building Texas Show, hosted by Justin McKenzie, travels the state interviewing the mayors, business owners, and civic leaders shaping Texas communities. Each episode highlights the people and projects building the future of Texas, from small Hill Country towns to major metros. We always shoutout our favorite Texas brand, Chisos Boots. The Marble Falls episode is available now on YouTube and wherever podcasts are heard.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is direct potable reuse, and why is Marble Falls pursuing it?
- Direct potable reuse takes treated wastewater and turns it back into drinking water rather than using it only for purple pipe irrigation. Mayor John Packer told Justin McKenzie that Marble Falls could convert roughly 800,000 gallons of daily wastewater into 600,000 to 700,000 gallons of drinkable water, reducing draws on the Highland Lakes. He called it a "no-brainer" and "the future" for a growing Texas.
- Why doesn't Marble Falls chase businesses with financial incentive packages?
- Packer explained that Marble Falls is already a place where people want to live and locate businesses, so the Economic Development Corporation handles opportunities case by case rather than aggressively offering incentives. The EDC focuses heavily on business retention, including facade grants to help older buildings get a facelift, and partners with existing local businesses instead of recruiting outside companies with subsidies.
- What is the lakefront hotel conference center, and why does it matter?
- The hotel conference center has been in development for years and is now under construction on Lake Marble Falls at the end of Main Street. Packer said it will connect the lake — the city's biggest asset — to existing Main Street shops and restaurants just blocks away, driving tourism, hotel occupancy tax revenue, and sales tax while activating downtown.
- How did the July 4th flooding affect Marble Falls' water system?
- Packer said the flooding turned Lake Marble Falls, the city's drinking water source, into "chocolate milk," quadrupling treatment cycle times as crews rinsed filters and ran continuous samples to the state. The lake took weeks to settle, meaning operators fought muddy intake water long after the flood itself ended, illustrating the daily strain on aging infrastructure.
- Why is traffic on Highway 281 a unique planning challenge?
- Packer noted that 281 serves as a major route from Mexico to the northern United States, carrying more than 35,000 vehicles through Marble Falls daily as an alternative to I-35. But traffic nearly disappears after 6:30 or 7 p.m., with signals flashing yellow overnight, making it harder to compete for TxDOT funding against the I-35 corridor in the same planning district.
- Who is Mayor John Packer?
- Packer is a small business owner of more than 20 years who moved to Marble Falls for a job and stayed. He previously served as mayor for six years, took a four-year break, and returned to the role about a year before the interview. He told McKenzie he doesn't consider himself a politician and tries to run the city like a business.
- What quality-of-life investments has Marble Falls made beyond infrastructure?
- Packer highlighted a built beach along Lake Marble Falls that makes the water accessible to residents without boats, even though the lake can flood 18 feet at 25 miles per hour. The city has also added trails, sidewalks, and pedestrian connectivity, plus a skate park, all aimed at supporting families and attracting employers who want quality of life for their workers.
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