State of the Water luncheon held for chamber members

The Wimberley Chamber of Commerce hosted a luncheon for chamber members last week to continue to educate the public about water issues affecting the Wimberley Valley.

Featured speaker David Baker introduced panelists Charlie Flatten of the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District, Adam Friedman of the Trinity Edwards Springs Protection Association and Dr. Robert Mace of The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment.

Panelists discussed the impacts of drought, the overpumping of water from the Trinity Aquifer by Aqua Texas, a private water utility company, and the high percentage of leakage from their poorly maintained infrastructure.

Also discussed was the increase of demand by population growth and the dispute over the authority of the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District to regulate Aqua Texas. In 2023, the District fined Aqua Texas nearly $500,000 for overpumping 90 million gallons.

In December 2023, Aqua Texas responded with a federal suit that challenged the District’s authority to levy the fine. In return, TESPA filed a complaint against Aqua Texas with the Public Utility Commission for operating without a permit, which was denied the company due to the outstanding fine.

The Trinity Aquifer, which feeds Jacob’s Well and Blue Hole Regional Park, both Wimberley landmarks, reached record low water levels last summer.

Speakers urged residents, especially in Woodcreek, to conserve water and to adopt One Water strategies. A member of the audience shared the merits of rainwater collection for households.

Sponsored by The Watershed Association, Ozona Bank, Divided Sky Roofing and Solar, and the Greater San Marcos Partnership, attendees lunched on a barbecue buffet by Kelly’s BBQ.