“A single landowner’s voice is rarely heard, so I have joined with a group of like-minded landowners to work to protect the water quality of Texas rivers, creeks, springs, and streams.”
Beyrl Armstrong, Texas Landowner
Join Our Tread Coalition to Make Your Voice Heard
Why it Matters
Population growth in the Hill Country is creating unprecedented wastewater discharge! This “effluent waste” causes undesirable algae growth that strangles the ecological balance of our streams, hurting aquatic wildlife. It can also contaminate aquifers, wells and drinking water.
State law allows treated wastewater to contain phosphorus and nitrogen, which causes big problems in river ecology. Also, there is no treatment for pharmaceutical chemicals that can contaminate aquifers.
Cities that recently applied for discharge permits:
- Dripping Springs
- Spring Branch
- Wimberley
- Buda
This can happen to your water well and the creeks and rivers you love!
A study was performed using pink dye, showing the effluent pumped into creeks makes its way into Hill Country homes within hours. if you depend on well water in the Hill Country, this can affect you!
Save money now, pay later
When a city or developer needs to discharge effluent, they have two choices:
- Purchase land for “land application” of the wastewater. (sprinkler systems on football fields and landscaping)
- Discharge into an area creek or river.
Option #2 is cheaper. Long term, this means damage to priceless natural resources, negatively affected well water, and degraded property values.
We know you care!
One voice is not enough to convince lawmakers that our water resources MUST BE PROTECTED. We need your support!
The 2018 TAMU AgriLife Land Trends Report survey shows that the #1 perceived concern of Texas landowners is WATER.
Please help us demonstrate our commitment to protecting Texas waters now and for future generations. Join TREAD (Texas Real Estate Advocacy and Defense) Coalition today and help us fight for landowner rights, including water rights.
Additional Resources
There are currently discharge permits being applied for in Blanco, Buda, Wimberley and Spring Branch.
- The City of Blanco is Requesting to Discharge 1.6 Million Gallons of Wastewater Daily into the Blanco River…
- Pink Tap Water Propels Local Environmentalists to Start No Dripping Sewage Campaign
- No Discharge for Now, Settlement reached in Dripping Springs Wastewater Proposal
- NBU examines the future of water in New Braunfels, releases 20-year plan
- Honey Creek, A Pristine Hill Country Stream, Could Soon See Treated Sewage
- Report: Sludge dumped into river by wastewater plant caused algae
- Pape: State ‘betrays’ Bastrop County by allowing Cedar Creek waste site
- In Wimberley, a fight bubbles up over sewage and a beloved swimming hole
- Direct Discharge of Sewage a Threat to Hill Country Waterways
Here’s what you can do to keep Onion Creek and other water sources clean in growing cities:
Visit your personalized Legislator Email Service for more information regarding who to contact about water policy!