In Central Texas, a contentious battle continues over a $1 billion water project as Georgetown, the nation's fastest-growing city, contracts to import water from the Simsboro Formation, threatening local water sources. Bryan and College Station argue that this project endangers their water supply, leading to a lawsuit. The increasing demands for freshwater present larger state challenges, with local lawmakers contemplating solutions like desalination and wastewater treatment, yet facing time constraints. Regulation remains problematic as groundwater management is under rural district control, often prioritizing landowner rights at the expense of broader community needs.
"We're going to fight this thing until the end," said Bobby Gutierrez, the mayor of Bryan. "It effectively drains the water source of the cities."
The fight over the Upwell project could well be a prelude for the broader battles to come as cities across Texas outgrow their water supplies.
On one side: Georgetown, the fastest growing city in America for three years straight, which in 2023 signed a contract with an investor-funded enterprise to quickly begin importing vast volumes of water.
Texas law offers limited clarity, generally preferring a landowner's right to pump their own groundwater over regulations on private property.
Collection
[
|
...
]