Texas Water Security and Purple Pipe Protection Plan

If a temporary moratorium on new wastewater discharge permits is granted in the Texas Hill Country and surrounding regions, this proposal outlines how that time should be used to establish responsible long-term water policies that protect rivers, aquifers, property owners, and future generations. This plan addresses two critical questions: where will long-term water supply come from, and how will wastewater be managed without threatening our waterways?

Long-Term Water Supply Requirements

Before large-scale developments are approved, developers must demonstrate a verified and sustainable long-term water source. The amount of growth proposed across Central Texas requires millions of gallons of water every day. Development cannot move forward unless a reliable supply exists that does not overdraw the Trinity Aquifer, Edwards Aquifer, or connected river systems including the Guadalupe, Blanco, and Colorado watersheds. Water supply planning must include verified groundwater availability within sustainable limits, regional water supply agreements, surface water partnerships where appropriate, and water reuse strategies that extend existing supplies. Growth must follow water availability, not the other way around.
The Purple Pipe Protection Plan (PPPP)
The centerpiece of this proposal is the Purple Pipe Protection Plan, requiring reclaimed water reuse systems in all new developments. Purple pipe systems carry treated wastewater not intended for drinking. Instead of discharging large volumes into creeks, rivers, and lakes, this water can be reused for irrigation of parks and landscaping, golf courses and green spaces, industrial and commercial uses, cooling systems such as data centers, and construction water and dust control. Installing this infrastructure during initial development is the most efficient and cost-effective time to do it.
Best Available Wastewater Treatment Technology
Wastewater treatment plants operating in these communities must utilize the highest standard of technology available. Even the best systems carry risk. Mechanical failure, power loss, flooding, and human error can occur. Responsible planning requires both advanced treatment and safeguards that prevent contamination if failures happen.
Creating a Safety Buffer for Our Waterways
Direct discharge sends treated wastewater straight into creeks, rivers, and lakes, leaving no buffer if something goes wrong. Land-based reuse creates a natural safeguard. When reclaimed water is applied on land, it moves through vegetation, soil, and limestone formations common to the Hill Country, slowing movement and allowing natural filtration before reaching waterways. Removing this buffer increases risk to critical water resources.
Stormwater and Water Recovery
New developments should incorporate water recovery strategies that capture existing resources, including rooftop rainwater collection, street runoff capture, and HVAC condensation. These systems supplement reclaimed water and reduce demand on drinking water supplies.
Watershed Protection Studies
During any moratorium period, independent studies should evaluate nutrient loading such as nitrogen and phosphorus, pharmaceutical and chemical contaminants, flood-related wastewater discharge risks, and cumulative impacts on Canyon Lake, the Guadalupe River, and connected systems. Future decisions must be based on sound science and long-term sustainability.

Additional Considerations Supporting This Plan

Texas water law has historically recognized the need to protect water resources for long-term sustainability. Limiting wastewater discharge into drinking water sources aligns with protecting public health and economic stability. Installing reuse systems during development is significantly less expensive than retrofitting later, and failure to plan ahead shifts long-term costs onto taxpayers. The Hill Country, known as Flash Flood Alley, is highly vulnerable to rapid runoff and extreme rainfall, and systems relying on direct discharge are especially at risk during flood events. Land-based reuse reduces this risk.

Regional Water Responsibility

This proposal applies to the broader interconnected water system across Central Texas, including the Guadalupe River (Upper and Lower), Blanco River, Comal River, San Marcos River, Pedernales River, Llano River, Canyon Lake, and connected portions of the Colorado River basin, along with the aquifers and reservoirs that supply these waterways. These systems provide drinking water, recreation, agriculture, and economic stability across multiple counties and communities. What happens upstream does not stay there. Water flows downstream, and decisions made today affect water quality and availability across the region. Water policy must consider cumulative regional impact, not isolated projects.

Austin Water Protection Precedent

For more than forty years, the Austin region protected its drinking water by limiting wastewater discharge into Lake Travis and the Highland Lakes system. That decision preserved water quality for generations. The same principle should apply to the Guadalupe, Blanco, and connected watersheds: protecting drinking water sources must come first.

Hill Country Tourism and Local Economy

The regional economy depends on clean water. Tourism, recreation, fishing, tubing, and outdoor activities support thousands of jobs and bring millions of visitors annually. Protecting water quality protects the economy.

Property Rights and Property Value Protection

Homes and land values across the region are tied directly to water quality. Allowing large-scale wastewater discharge into nearby waterways risks long-term damage to property values and community stability. Protecting water quality protects existing investments and property rights.

AT THE END OF THE DAY,

Responsible growth in Texas must protect the water resources that sustain our communities. By requiring proven water supplies, implementing reclaimed water infrastructure through the Purple Pipe Protection Plan, utilizing the best available treatment technology, and maintaining safeguards against failure, Texas can grow responsibly while protecting its rivers, aquifers, and drinking water for generations to come.