UPDATE: Texas State Senator Donna Campbell has just announced a fierce opposition to a wastewater discharge permit linked to the controversial Guajolote Ranch development, a proposed 2,900-home project in northwest Bexar County. In a strongly worded letter dated October 30, 2023, Campbell urged the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to reject the permit, citing grave concerns for groundwater quality, endangered species habitats, and public health.
This urgent development comes just days after the TCEQ voted to approve the permit on October 22, although the decision is not yet final. Opponents, including the Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance and the city of Grey Forest, have 25 days from October 28 to request a rehearing, a move that is already underway according to their legal team.
In her letter, Campbell emphasized the potential risks posed by the permit, which would allow the discharge of an average of one million gallons per day of treated wastewater into the Helotes Creek watershed. This watershed plays a crucial role in recharging the Trinity Glen Rose Aquifer, the primary water source for surrounding communities, and contributes up to 15% of the recharge for the Edwards Aquifer, which provides drinking water to approximately 2.5 million people in the region.
“Any wastewater discharge in the Helotes Creek watershed would degrade the Edwards Aquifer’s recharge quality,” Campbell stated, referencing findings from a 2020 study by the Southwest Research Institute commissioned under San Antonio’s Edwards Aquifer Protection Plan. She noted that these conclusions have never been scientifically refuted and called on TCEQ to formally incorporate these findings into their review.
Moreover, Campbell raised serious concerns regarding the permit evaluation process. She alleged that the TCEQ failed to adequately assess the impacts on federally protected species as mandated by the Endangered Species Act. Her letter also questioned procedural changes made to the permit record post-public hearings, including the removal of a retention pond that was previously crucial to the applicant’s modeling.
Campbell’s opposition aligns with a growing bipartisan coalition of lawmakers, including three other state senators and all ten state representatives from Bexar County, who collectively expressed their concerns in a separate letter earlier this fall.
The senator is also demanding TCEQ clarify public statements claiming the discharged effluent would be “safe to drink,” asserting that the permit does not comply with Texas’ highest reclaimed water standards.
As of now, TCEQ has not responded to Campbell’s letter. The agency has 30 days to reply, and all eyes are on the commission as the community awaits their next move.
This situation continues to develop, and the implications for groundwater safety and public health are significant. Residents and environmental advocates are closely monitoring the outcome, as the decision could set a precedent for future developments in the region.
Stay tuned for more updates on this urgent environmental issue affecting the heart of Texas.
