The city of Dripping Springs and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality appealed a ruling Nov. 16 by the 459th Texas District Court that reversed a wastewater discharge permit that was granted to the city in early 2019.
The TCEQ permit would have allowed Dripping Springs to dispose of treated wastewater into Onion Creek, which city officials have said is necessary to expand its treatment plant’s capacity to serve the city’s growing population.
The reversal of the permit was handed down by Judge Maya Guerra Gamble, who ruled in favor of South Austin nonprofit Save Our Springs Alliance. In the lawsuit, the nonprofit claimed that the allowed 800,000 gallons per day of treated wastewater could negatively impact Onion Creek’s native species and the area drinking water.
“[The ruling is] an important step towards preventing Hill Country streams from being used to flush sewage downstream, which ultimately contaminates groundwater wells and endangered species habitat, including Barton Springs,” Save Our Springs Alliance said in a statement after the Oct. 29 ruling in favor of the nonprofit.
