Georgetown water reservations in limbo

After getting into an agreement with water provider EPCOR in August 2023 that reserves 40,000 acre feet of groundwater from the Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer in Robertson County for Georgetown, city staff in December revealed that associated permits are being contested by the cities of Bryan and College Station, Brazos County, and Texas A&M University. 

The permits are being contested because, by selling water to cities and entities that aren’t located along the aquifer, those in the Brazos Valley could be adversely impacted, according to the contesting agencies. The entities claim water sales could cause large increases in water rates in Brazos County and could deprive residents of water needed for daily use and agriculture. 

In a statement to the Sun, the City of Bryan said for decades, the entities have planned and implemented measures to secure water for residents, which is now “threatened by a neighboring city.” 

“Georgetown’s push to secure water rights from surrounding counties is jeopardizing the future of Bryan, College Station and Texas A&M,” said Lacey Lively, communications and marketing director for the City of Bryan. “We do not believe the legislature intended to pit cities against cities for survival and economic opportunity when it passed the current water law. The cities of Bryan and College Station and Texas A&M University will fight vigorously to secure enough water to meet obligations to citizens.”

Georgetown City Manager David Morgan told the Sun that Georgetown is committed to reaching a long-term water supply agreement with EPCOR “that meets our growing needs and ensures that the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer is managed in a sustainable way that continues to provide access to water for everyone in this region, including residents of Robertson County.” 

“The protection and health of this critical water resource is crucial to Georgetown,” he said. 

The permits are being brought to the State Office of Administrative Hearings. Through this process, an administrative law judge will provide a permit proposal to the Brazos Valley Groundwater District Board for consideration. 

Georgetown spokesperson Aly Van Dyke said the Brazos Valley Groundwater Conservation District initially filed the permits for the water without issue. None were contested and the landowners used their property rights to sell the water in line with permit regulations. 

“In 2023, the [Groundwater Conservation District] discovered a technical issue with the quorum who approved the permits,” she said. “Specifically, some of the members served in other offices that were incompatible with their role on the Board of the Groundwater Conservation District. 

“The Groundwater Conservation District acted quickly to resolve any technical issues with the permits by passing a rule to ratify the permits, but the cities of Bryan and College Station and Texas A&M used it as an opportunity to challenge the permits. Beyond that, we cannot speculate as to the actions of other entities.” 

A presentation to Georgetown City Council from August 2023 read EPCOR had partnered with a property owner in Robertson County who has 39,300 acre-feet of water available. This gave Georgetown the opportunity to reserve water rights in the Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer in Robertson County, north of College Station. 

“We entered into the reservation agreement with EPCOR for 40,000 acre feet of water only after we understood that the Brazos Valley Groundwater Conservation District had approved the permits necessary to produce and transport this water in accordance with state law,” Mr. Morgan said. 

If permits are approved, the water could be made available to the city at a delivery point or points throughout Williamson County via a constructed transmission pipeline infrastructure. 

The water supply under the agreement would be permitted by EPCOR and be delivered to the city for industrial, commercial, agricultural, public and municipal water use. The water would be reserved per year for a term of two years while the city and EPCOR negotiate a water supply agreement to provide long-term delivery of the groundwater and other related items. 

“The EPCOR project is just one of the investments Georgetown is pursuing to diversify and increase our long-term water supply,” Mr. Morgan said. “Fortunately, our planning efforts remain well ahead of our needs, and we are confident that we will be able to provide enough water to support our community.” 

Campbell Young, general manager of the Wellborn Special Utility District — which provides water to the rural areas outside of the Bryan-College Station metro — spoke out against the water transport permits this past June during a Brazos Valley Groundwater Conservation District Transport Permit Hearing. 

He said if the permit is approved, all of Wellborn SUD’s wells would not only need major modifications, but the permits would reduce the amount of drinking water. 

“If this transport project is approved, there will be higher costs for every water user within this groundwater district,” Mr. Young said. “Eventually, we will have to build our own pipeline to some other water source.” 

In a press release, the City of Bryan said “ideally, all parties prioritize conservation, while developing gradual ramp up water use plans, and thereby, better manage this valuable natural resource for local agriculture, area residents and the Brazos Valley’s future. Water users of all types should consider the possibility of water shortages in the Brazos Valley to ensure the sustainability of local agriculture, industry and residential water services.”