PUC of Texas issued a Preliminary Order in Aqua Texas Inc. v. Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District on Oct. 30, referring the matter to the State Office of Administrative Hearings, for a fully evidentiary hearing on the utility company’s violations, according to a news release.
PUC regulates the state’s electric telecommunication and water and sewer utilities, according to its website.
In case you missed it
Aqua Texas filed a federal civil lawsuit against the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District and its board of directors in December 2023, claiming the district exceeded its authority and “unfairly and unlawfully” assessed them with excessive fines.
According to the district, self-reported production volumes for 2022 show that Aqua Texas overproduced its annual allotment by over 89 million gallons. Aqua Texas over-pumped by 88%—almost double the permitted amount.
Leakage reports also show that the utility lost as much as 32% of water due to “poorly maintained” water pipe infrastructure, according to previous reporting by Community Impact.
Trinity Edwards Springs Protection Association, or TESPA, filed a Motion to Intervene in the lawsuit in August.
What it means
The preliminary order advances TESPA’s complaint against the utility company for “unauthorized pumping” and “excessive water losses," the news release states.
Digging deeper
In TESPA’s formal complaint, the nonprofit organization requested the PUC either decrease Aqua’s customer base in the Wimberley area or mandate significant operational changes, according to a news release.
What’s next?
The hearing will be held virtually on Dec. 5 at 10 a.m.
