(Wimberley, TX | April 30, 2024) – Local Texas community members and conservation advocates are taking action against water utility Aqua Texas (Aqua), an investor-owned utility providing water to thousands of residents in Central Texas. Aqua is a subsidiary of Pennsylvania-based Essential Utilities.
The Trinity Edwards Springs Protection Association (TESPA) announced today it has filed a formal complaint with the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC), documenting years of reckless practices by Aqua including the fact that the utility is serving its customers with an illegal groundwater supply. In its filing, TESPA requests the PUC to either revoke Aqua’s authority to provide water in the Wimberley area or to mandate significant changes to its operations. The complaint has been docketed by the PUC and assigned an Administrate Law Judge to consider evidence on Aqua’s
alleged violations.
For at least two years, Aqua failed to abide by Texas groundwater law and over-pumped its permit by more than 150 million gallons. After years of non-compliance with Texas law, the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District denied Aqua’s applications to renew groundwater permits in 2023, which means the company currently has no legal access to water supply.