Hays County Commissioners are once again discussing water woes

HAYS COUNTY, Texas - Officials spent part of their meeting on Tuesday hearing from the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District.

"It's long term sustainability of the Trinity Aquifer is what it comes down to," said John Dupnik who serves as the general manager for BSEACD.

"It's a very important conversation and something we take very seriously," said Hays County Commissioner Will Conely.

Conely says constituents have concerns about their ground wells after learning about a company's plan to pump ground water out of an unincorporated part of Western Hays County. Conely shares those same concerns. Electro Purification, a company out of Houston, has contracts to supply the city of Buda some of that water.

Senior Hydrogeologist Dr. Brian Smith with BSEACD briefed commissioners and says while he's concerned about the situation a more in depth study of the area is needed.

"This is an area of limited water resources, increased growth and frequent droughts so we're seeing water levels declining and this isn't the ideal aquifer for sustainability over the long term," said Smith.

Leaders are open to alternative solutions when it comes to water. Conely says one emerging idea could come from the Guadalupe Blanco River Authority. He says the GBRA has the water to supply Buda.

"We still have a lot of water available along the corridor it's a matter of shuffling the deck properly and making sure those sources are shared for everyone in Hays County," said Conely.

Officials in Hays County are keeping a close eye on what happens at the Capitol. Lawmakers could vote to expand the conservation district which would include the unincorporated areas.

State Rep. Jason Isaac, R- Dripping Springs, has filed several bills. They have not made it to the floor for consideration yet.