{"id":16093,"date":"2025-10-22T18:30:08","date_gmt":"2025-10-22T18:30:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/16093\/"},"modified":"2025-10-22T18:30:08","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T18:30:08","slug":"texas-regulators-green-light-wastewater-project-over-sensitive-san-antonio-area-watershed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/16093\/","title":{"rendered":"Texas regulators green light wastewater project over sensitive San Antonio-area watershed"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"OpponentsOpponents of a permit to dump wastewater into Helotes Creek show their signs during a hearing last summer in Austin. Credit: Courtesy Photo \/ Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance<\/p>\n

Texas regulators on Wednesday approved a permit for a controversial northwest Bexar County wastewater facility that\u2019s expected to pump an average\u00a0of a million gallons of treated sewage daily into the Helotes Creek watershed.<\/p>\n

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality unanimously approved the permit sought by Florida-based developer Lennar Corp. with little discussion, saying it met \u201call applicable requirements.\u201d<\/p>\n

Opponents of the wastewater project, tied to Lennar\u2019s Guajolote Ranch development, have waged a months-long fight against the permit, arguing the wastewater\u2019s introduction into the watershed will endanger San Antonio\u2019s drinking water and residents\u2019 ability to swim and fish in Helotes Creek.<\/p>\n

In an emailed statement, project opponents said they plan to file for a rehearing, which would trigger a new process that could push back a final verdict another 55 days. Should TCEQ reapprove the project, opponents would have another 30 days to appeal in Travis County district court.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are, of course, extremely disappointed in the commissioners\u2019 decision, as we\u2019d hoped that under new leadership they would chart a new course that truly abides by their own stated mission\u00a0\u2018to protect our state\u2019s public health and natural resources consistent with sustainable economic development,\u2019 \u201d Randy Neumann, chair of the steering committee of the Scenic Loop-Helotes Creek Alliance, said in the statement. \u201cThis decision does nothing of the sort.\u201d<\/p>\n

A 2020 study<\/a>\u00a0funded by the City of San Antonio found that\u00a0any wastewater system from\u00a0a large-scale residential development that released into the Helotes Creek watershed would \u201csignificantly degrade the watershed and the quality of water recharging the Edwards Aquifer.\u201d<\/p>\n

Roughly 2.5 million people depend on the Edwards Aquifer, which provides more than half of the Alamo City\u2019s drinking water.<\/p>\n

Bexar County commissioners, San Antonio City Council or other state entities still could shut down the project by rejecting a special funding mechanism Lennar seeks to fund the water plant, Neumann said in the statement. That mechanism, called a Public Improvement District, would pay for the project using assessments against area property owners.<\/p>\n

However, \u201cif the 2.5 million residents across Central Texas who depend on the Edwards Aquifer ultimately don\u2019t get the remedy they deserve, our message will be, \u2018See you in court,\u2019\u201d he added. <\/p>\n

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