What’s happening
The Aquifer Storage and Recovery, or ASR, project was approved as part of Austin’s Water Forward Plan. Through the ASR project, Austin Water would store, or “inject,” drinking water from the utility’s treatment plants into an existing aquifer. This would allow the utility to store water that is available during wet periods to be used for dry periods or when additional water is needed for situations such as drought and other emergencies, city staff said.
Austin Water Assistant Director Kevin Critendon said the ASR project would help the city respond to severe and frequent droughts, as well as ongoing developments and water use in the area.
Austin Water looked at eight potential locations and is currently looking to build the facility in the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer, project staff said. Potentially located in northeast Bastrop County, the project would need up to 7,000 acres for the full-scale facility.
Some Bastrop community members said they are concerned about the potential impacts of the ASR project in the area.
Resident Andres Rosales, who is also the Bastrop assistant city manager but spoke during public comment, said that while the project is a “critical part” of the state’s water plan, he doesn’t support it being in Bastrop.
“The city of Austin has available aquifers within its own jurisdiction,” he said. “Why not pursue those in the area where their constituents are affected and not ours?”
Project Manager Marissa Flores Gonzales said the Austin Water team is conducting field testing to ensure that the injected water doesn’t contaminate the aquifer. She said avoiding contamination is also beneficial for the ASR project.
“It doesn’t serve the project overall for there to be groundwater contamination or for there to be adverse reactions within the aquifer,” she said. “Protecting the health of the aquifer is a key contributor to the success of this project.”
Gonzales said that the location of the Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer doesn’t have as much water movement overall, meaning the Austin Water team can have more control over where the water goes, which helps prevent contamination.
Still, Rosales said, because Bastrop County residents rely on the aquifer, the project can have a dangerous impact on all residents.
"These aquifers are our only source of drinking water,” he said. “To put them at risk of contamination ... that not only jeopardizes the future of our county ... but it threatens the livelihood of our farmers and ranchers who put food on the tables of Texas, your county constituents.”
What else
Austin Water staff said the project is still in its early stages. The project stands at Phase 1, which includes identifying potential sites for piloting.
Phase 2 would include designing and constructing an ASR pilot project, subject to approval by the Austin City Council.
Staff would conduct further testing to ensure compatibility with the aquifer and work on safeguards to protect water quality. Phase 3 would include the full development of the ASR facility. Throughout the project, staff will monitor wells and share data with city and county stakeholders, they said.
Each phase has a “go or no-go” step in which the county could refuse to move forward with the project, Gonzales said.
Project staff said that Austin Water is “committed” to putting more water into the aquifer than they put out. Staff also said that Bastrop residents would be compensated through the lease or sale of their property if they are impacted and that the owner would have the option to stay on their land. Ranching and farming are compatible uses for ASR projects, they said.
However, a bill in the Texas Legislature, House Bill 1523, can prevent the project from moving forward altogether. The bill would prohibit the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality from allowing injection wells for aquifer storage and recovery projects.
Bastrop City Council members unanimously approved a resolution supporting House Bill 1523 during a council meeting April 22 and cited a need for more information.
Going forward
Austin Water staff said they are working on developing their plan regarding feedback about contamination and other feedback. They also want to have a memorandum of understanding to ensure both parties have a better idea of the ASR project and “work as partners to create a regional solution.”
Bill HB 1523 has not been passed yet.
