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“Why not your backyard? Why our backyard?”
— Sylvia Carrillo-Trevino, city manager
BASTROP — City Council voted April 22 to support state legislation aimed at stopping an Austin plan from experimenting on Bastrop County water sources.
House Bill 1523, introduced by local State Rep. Stan Gerdes, would prevent Austin from using approximately 700 acres near Paige in the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer to test a potential longterm water storage initiative. If that site proves unsuitable, the plan could shift to the Simsboro Aquifer, Bastrop’s primary drinking water source, according to City Manager Sylvia Carrillo-Trevino.
“Simsboro Aquifer is our primary water source. It is not a secondary or ancillary
water supply to the City of Austin,” Carrillo-Trevino said. “So my question became why not your backyard? Why our backyard? I don’t have an answer to that.”
Austin’s Aquifer Recovery and Storage project would collect excess water during wet periods, treat it and inject it into an aquifer for use during dry seasons, according to the city manager.
Carrillo-Trevino warned that treated water interacting with the aquifer’s natural geology could lead to metal contamination, potentially releasing dangerous substances like arsenic, hydrogen sulfide or uranium into the water.
While similar aquifer storage projects have succeeded in San Antonio, El Paso and Kerrville, Carrillo-Trevino noted that those cities tested on water sources within their own counties. She said that while the technology can be effective, a failed test could contaminate the entire aquifer.
Carrillo-Trevino said she attended three meetings about the Austin project but was denied access to full project documents, being told the information was confidential. She raised concerns that while Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said eminent domain was off the table for this project, future councils might not be bound by that assurance.
Eminent domain allows governments to seize private land for public use, often with compensation.
“I don’t know that it’s a completely bad project, but I don’t know that it’s a good project,” Carrillo-Trevino said. “Without having enough information, I feel that we cannot stand idly by. We have to help Rep. Gerdes get the bill through.”
Carrillo-Trevino also told the council that Austin had asked the city to sign a memorandum of understanding to formally support the project. If HB 1523 passes, Austin would have to find another location for its aquifer testing.
Bastrop County was not Austin’s first choice for the pilot project, Carrillo-Trevino added. Initial plans targeted Lee County, but local opposition forced Austin to reconsider.
City Council voted unanimously to support the bill.
Councilwoman Cynthia Meyer urged residents to raise their voices in defense of local water.
“We need y’all also— everyone listening, sitting here—to yell. Yell really loud about this because this is our yard, and we want to keep our water safe in our yard,” Meyer said.
