Is Austin Trying to Steal Bastrop’s Water?

By Judah Ross | Bastrop Real Estate Group

At a recent State of the County breakfast hosted by the Chamber, I learned something that left me stunned—and maybe it’ll shock you too:

👉 The City of Austin is trying to inject treated surface water into Bastrop County’s primary aquifer.
And local leaders are fighting back.

Let’s break down what’s going on, what it means for Bastrop, and why you should be paying close attention.

What’s Happening?

The City of Bastrop recently unanimously supported House Bill 1523, which would block Austin from building a facility to inject treated surface water into the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer—the same aquifer that supplies drinking water to Bastrop County.

Austin’s plan? Use an Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) system to pump treated surface water (from places like Lake Travis) into underground aquifers in Bastrop County during times of surplus—then extract it later during droughts.

But here's the catch:
This aquifer is our main water source. And the idea of another city injecting treated water into it—and then pumping it back out—has sparked serious concerns.

Why Is This a Problem?

While ASR is not a new concept (cities like San Antonio and El Paso already use it), it comes with major risks—especially for rural communities like ours that depend on clean, reliable groundwater.

⚠️ Key Concerns:

• Contamination Risk: Injected water, even if treated, can trigger chemical reactions underground, causing dangerous elements like arsenic, uranium, and hydrogen sulfide to dissolve into the water supply.

• Lack of Transparency: According to Bastrop City Manager Sylvia Carrillo, Austin didn’t consult key local stakeholders, including Bastrop County Water Improvement District #2.

• Unfair Targeting: Austin initially considered Lee County but faced pushback. Now, they’ve turned to Bastrop—without community consent.

As Councilmember Cynthia Meyer put it:

“It’s like being gobbled up by the big monster of Austin. If you want to do this, Austin—do it in your own yard. Don’t do it in ours.”

Who’s Fighting Back?

• State Representative Stan Gerdes (HD-17) filed the bill to stop this project.

• Sylvia Carrillo, Bastrop’s city manager, has testified on the dangers and lack of stakeholder inclusion.

• Local councilmembers and residents are pushing for more transparency and long-term protection of Bastrop’s water.

Why This Matters to Every Bastrop Resident

If you live in Bastrop County, this is your fight too. Our wells, farms, homes, and future depend on a stable, clean water supply. Once contamination occurs—or once outside cities start using our aquifers like a storage tank—it’s hard to reverse the damage.

And let’s not forget:
Bastrop is already under pressure from explosive growth (thanks, Elon Musk 👀), and we’re managing that change. But we can't afford to lose control of our water.

What You Can Do

📢 Speak Up.
Attend local meetings. Write your representatives. Follow House Bill 1523 and stay informed.

🛑 Say NO to aquifer storage projects in Bastrop without community approval.
Water is life—especially in Texas—and we can’t let urban giants jeopardize our supply.

If you’ve got questions about how this might affect local property values, development, or rural land, I’d love to talk.
Call or text me at 512-998-1957.

I'm Judah Ross, your Bastrop Realtor, and I believe protecting our land—and our water—is just as important as buying or selling it.