Comment period closed on city wastewater permit

The most recent comment period on Dripping Springs’ new wastewater permit application ended last week, concluding with a public meeting held by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

The city of Dripping Springs requested an amendment to its Texas Land Application Permit with the TCEQ in February of 2018, beginning a lengthy process of approval. If approved, the new permit would increase the city’s wastewater capacity by 110,000 gallons per day, bringing the daily capacity to 458,5000 gallons. The new permit would also increase the city’s land application capacity by adding irrigation areas within the Carter/Caliterra development and the Heritage Public Improvement District, according to the TCEQ.

If the permit does not pass, the city will find itself in a difficult position, having already allocated the increased capacity for projects currently in development, said Ginger Faught, the deputy city administrator for Dripping Springs.

“If this amendment is significantly delayed and development in Dripping Springs continues at the current rate, projects will be required to implement their ‘contingency facilities’ in order to continue developing,” she said. “Contingency facilities range from septic systems to TLAP package plants.”

However, not all are in favor of the requested amendment. At the public meeting held by the TCEQ on March 28, multiple residents expressed concern that proper research had not been conducted to determine the permit’s potential effect on the environment.

“We have technical concerns regarding these sites and how they are evaluated,” said John Worrall, board director of the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District. “The district requests that the draft permit contain additional provisions… to ensure that the groundwater and wells will be protected. This is the very groundwater that the citizens of Dripping Springs, and others throughout the county, rely on for drinking water.”

“We believe that the irrigation fields may create a risk for groundwater contamination and that more thorough evaluation is required,” he continued. “A geologist hasn’t been onsite. We believe the salt testing has been inadequate… the recharge feature identification is inadequate… the assessment of the groundwater levels is contradictory within the draft permit itself.”

Others showed support for the amended permit and applauded the city’s efforts.

“The city has very diligently and correctly tried for a number of years to handle the discharge of its wastewater in accordance with TCEQ guidelines,” said Charles Busbey, a resident of Dripping Springs. “It’s sad the amount of misinformation that has gone out to delay the permits required; this permit is very much needed. The city of Dripping Springs needs to quickly handle the discharge of their effluent, and I strongly urge that the TLAP permit be expeditiously considered and approved.”

Outside of last week’s meeting, the TCEQ received 11 comments, 12 hearing requests and 29 public meetings pertaining to Dripping Springs’ most recent permit application, according to the commission’s website.

“After tonight, TCEQ staff will begin reviewing all the comments that were submitted, both in writing and during the formal comment session, and start working on their Response to Comments document,” said Brad Patterson, TCEQ manager, Office of the Chief Clerk. “Once that document is prepared, it will be filed with our office and we’ll mail it off to everyone who is on the mailing list for this application, including those people who provided comments.”

“That will establish the final, 30-day deadline for folks to request a contested hearing,” he concluded. “It may take a couple months.”