STS NEWS 01.25.26
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has been processing permit applications for 12 new wastewater facilities that could discharge up to 8 million gallons of inadequately treated sewage every day into Salado Creek. This is one of the largest concentrations of new wastewater permit applications anywhere in Texas. Salado Creek is a pristine stream that runs over the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone in Bell and Williamson Counties. TCEQ has already approved 5 of these applications, and if the agency approves all 12, the results could be disastrous.
The harmful effects on Salado Creek could include:
• algae blooms that would suffocate the creek and prevent people from wading, fishing, or swimming in it;
• potential wastewater contamination of nearby wells used for drinking water; and
• more threats to the endangered Salado Salamander.
TCEQ is currently accepting public comments on one of the pending permit applications, for The Reserve At Salado Creek. Save Texas Streams urges you to submit comments on the agency’s draft permit for The Reserve, either on TCEQ’s website or at a public meeting on January 27 (instructions below).
