Blanco River/Cypress Creek Water Association

08/19/2025

Interesting article about Discharge Permits in Texas and how Pristine water legislation got defeated by powerful developers

A bill in the Texas Legislature would protect the last 21 pristine watersheds. But for years, previous attempts have been defeated by powerful homebuilders.

08/18/2025

Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Please help us oppose the renewal of a wastewater discharge permit that would allow up to 75,000 gallons per day of treated wastewater effluent into the Blanco River just downstream of the RR12 Bridge. The site for the treatment plant associated with this permit is on the eastern edge of Blue Hole Park adjacent to the Hike and Bike Trail.
The City has already submitted the application to the TCEQ to renew this permit, however, this item is on their agenda for this Thursday, August 21st at 6pm at City Hall which allows for public comment. Please attend and speak against this permit renewal. Even if you just stand up and say I don’t want the permit renewed and I don’t want a sewer plant at Blue Hole Park, that is enough.

Also, please email the city council. Ask them to withdraw the application and let the permit expire. Even if you don’t reside in the city limits of Wimberley, you can voice your opinion as the preservation of the Blanco River is important to all of us. Together, let’s preserve and protect our pristine waterways and Blue Hole Park. Thank you!
Here are their email addresses.

Jim Chiles – [email protected]
Rebecca Minnick – [email protected]
Bo Bowman – [email protected]
Chris Sheffield – [email protected]
Bob Clark – [email protected]
David Cohen – [email protected]
Tim Patek – [email protected]

Thank you!

Gail Hamrick Pigg
Blanco River Cypress Creek Water Association

08/18/2025

Dear Wimberley Community,
Please help us oppose the renewal of the City of Wimberley's Direct Discharge Permit into the Pristine Blanco River. Attend the public hearing at city hall this Thursday 8/21 at 6pm to show that we oppose direct discharge and building a wastewater treatment plant adjacent to Blue Hole Park.

Copy and paste this letter and send to
To the Wimberley City Council,
I oppose the renewal of the City of Wimberley's Direct Discharge Permit.
Water Quality Degradation - The renewal of this permit would ultimately allow for degradation of our water quality.
The Broken Promise - The City of Wimberley promised our community to prohibit direct discharge of treated wastewater into pristine hill country rivers and streams with Council Resolution No. 09-2022 dated March 17, 2022.
Unintended Future Consequences - The unintended consequences of renewing this permit are dangerous.
Cost - The excessive cost of building a wastewater membrane plant required by the permit is a key reason for the City of Wimberley to withdraw this renewal application.
Public Right to Access Parkland - The permit application states that the old wastewater treatment facility's effluent drain field is decommissioned. Why is it fenced and not accessible to the public?
Blue Hole Park Wastewater Treatment Plant - Do you really want the odors and associated nuisances in Wimberley's #1 community investment?
Not Accounting for Existing and Future Wastewater Flow - The permit application does not describe the existing wastewater flow being sent to Aqua Texas or address future flows within the next five years.
No Justification for Permit Renewal - This renewal application is not accurate or complete.
Collection System Overflows & Maintenance Concerns - The new collection system has experienced repeat overflows on multiple occasions on Water's Point Property. Were fats, oil and grease (FOG) a cause of the sanitary sewer overflow? Why are industrial users not listed on the application?
Settlement Agreement Conditions Not Met - Water quality sampling data required by the original settlement agreement are not being posted to the City's website in accordance with the permit.
Thank you for your consideration of my concerns.
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
Tip: When emailing, paste the council addresses into the To line, or send individually to avoid Reply All.

[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]

06/21/2025

Information on the Permit Renewal Application…

06/21/2025

The City of Wimberley has applied to renew their permit to build a wastewater treatment plant in Blue Hole Park that would discharge treated effluent into the Blanco River just upstream of Rocky River Ranch.

05/13/2021

Passing along this request from Annalisa Peace with Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance for support of SB 1747 the companion bill to HB 4146 which has already been passed. Please contact your State Senator to ask them to vote FOR SB 1747 (Zaffirini), the identical companion bill to HB 4146 so that future generations can enjoy pristine Texas waterways....

Dear GEAA members and friends,

On Tuesday one of our favorite, and most needed bills of the session passed on 3rd reading! HB 4146 will prohibit direct discharge of sewage effluent into Texas’ cleanest waterways.

We hope companion bill SB 1747 by Zaffirini will go to the State Senate and, if approved, on to Governor Abbott for him to sign into law. According to Senator Zaffirini, “BILL 1747 would preserve our crystal-clear, ultra-pure Texas rivers, including the Devils and Frio rivers. Rep. Tracy King is sponsoring its companion, House Bill 4146. We hope to protect waterways that provide fish and wildlife habitats, recreational opportunities, and art by God in some of the most beautiful parts of our state.”

Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to House Natural Resources Chairman, Tracy King, who not only sponsored the bill but did a masterful presentation at Tuesday’s House session that resulted in a vote of 82 For to 61 Against.

And, thanks to Senator Zaffirini for her support in the Senate.

Our thanks, as well, to Sky Lewey and the Nueces River Authority for really stellar work on this, and to the entire team of Water Warriors who collaborated to shepherd this through.

And - a great big thank you to all of you who responded to Tuesday morning’s - and all pervious - alerts by contacting legislators to persuade them to vote yea. I heard that you were heard.

Great work everyone!!!!!

Your final task is to contact your State Senator to ask them to vote FOR SB 1747 (Zaffirini), the identical companion bill to HB 4146.

GEAA has been trying to get similar legislation passed to protect our Hill Country streams since 2005. Let's make the 87th legislative session notable for protecting Texan's water!

Thank you!
Annalisa Peace

Executive Director
Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance

You can donate to GEAA on line or mail a check to PO Box 15618, San Antonio, Texas 78212

12/08/2020

We are so fortunate that Wimberley is not going to be operating a wastewater plant in Blue Hole Park that is permitted to discharge into the Blanco River! Thank you to everyone who made this happen.

In Central Texas, an ongoing battle between residents and wastewater treatment operations is becoming increasingly litigious.

11/25/2020

The latest news on Dripping Springs Wastewater Permit ...

The TCEQ permit would have allowed Dripping Springs to dispose of treated wastewater into Onion Creek.

05/05/2020

This is a great idea that tracks virus and accounts for those who don’t get tested.

By testing samples of sewage gathered at the city’s wastewater treatment plants, officials hope to uncover the scale of the coronavirus outbreak in Houston and perhaps pinpoint hotspots undetected by in-person tests.

05/01/2020

Yesterday marked a huge milestone for the Wimberley Wastewater Project.
Council unanimously approved a contract between the City and AquaTexas for wholesale wastewater service for the next 10 years. Thank you to all the Council Members for working together in a unity to get this done! Special thanks to Councilmember Barchfield who has been a BRCCWA member and ex board member from the beginning. This action will ensure that there will be no discharge into the Blanco River at Deer Creek.

Thank you BRCCWA members for everything you’ve done through the years!