The Statesman is reporting that today the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality could decide to award Belterra the first permit to discharge treated wastewater into Bear Creek that feeds the Barton Springs portion of the Edwards Aquifer. Per the Statesman, "the (Belterra) district says it needs an expanded treatment plant to cope with increased sewage as the area develops: About 735 homes have been built at Belterra, developed by Calif.-based Makar Properties, and 2,000 homes total are planned for the property." 

Along with the City of Dripping Springs, several other government entities had opposed the permit citing the risk to water quality should the treatment system ever malfunction, but legal fees and the prospect of an "unsympathetic" vote from the state environmental commission, resulted in the City of Dripping Springs and others dropping their opposition. The City of Austin and some downstream landowners remain opposed.

In the article, the general manager for the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation district opines on the precedent this sets for other developments. If Belterra can discharge into Bear Creek, is the precedent set for discharge into Onion Creek?

Get the complete history and details on the Statesman.

UPDATE: "The state environmental commissioners today said they would grant a permit in keeping with a settlement agreement that limits the discharge, but they stopped short of actually approving it. They asked their staff to modify the permit to reflect the settlement agreement, and they will return to the issue at their Feb. 25 meeting." See the Statesman here for details.