We want to bring your attention to a critical issue affecting our beloved Jacob’s Well and the Hays County community. Aqua Texas, the primary water provider for Hays County, has significantly over-pumped the Trinity Aquifer, the lifeblood of Jacob’s Well, exceeding their allotted quota by double (89 Million Gallons) compared to last year. This over-pumping has resulted in the complete depletion of water flow in Jacob’s Well, leading to a fine of five hundred thousand dollars imposed on Aqua Texas, which has yet to be paid. David Baker, the Executive Director of The Watershed Association, points out, that ignoring the groundwater district’s guidelines has significantly contributed to our current predicament.
The absence of water at Jacob’s Well has caused a local disaster, resulting in substantial revenue losses for the county due to the inability to permit swimmers for the past two summers.
Conservation Efforts: During a drought, the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District can limit water consumption by a certain percentage, depending on the drought stage. However, the district’s authority is limited to imposing fines; it cannot directly curtail overconsumption.
We firmly believe that monetary penalties fall short of the comprehensive justice that both Jacob’s Well and our community rightfully deserve. For over a year, the Watershed Association has been actively engaged in discussions with officials from the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District and Aqua Texas executives to explore ways to mitigate drought and conserve water in the region.
What Happens Now?
What Would It Take to Save Jacob’s Well? To save Jacob’s Well, overpumping must be halted and eventually reversed. The Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District has taken steps in this direction, including prohibiting new groundwater permits during emergency drought conditions and levying penalties on Aqua Texas. Negotiations are ongoing, and a settlement may involve penalties and actions to reduce pressure on Jacob’s Well. If a settlement cannot be reached, Aqua Texas’ permit may not be renewed in 2024. Some suggest that Aqua Texas should consider selling its assets to the local community or relocating its pumps to a less detrimental site for important springs. It is important to remember that Aqua Texas, a publically traded company, is not a company local to our region, but rather based on the East Coast of the United States, thus pulling millions of dollars out of the Texas Hill Country every year.
What you can do to help:
We recognize that this issue is complex, and complicated, and will take intentional collaboration across our region. We urge all members of our community to stay patient, informed, and engaged in our efforts to protect Jacob’s Well and ensure the long-term sustainability of our precious water resources.
Support Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District (HTGCD): HTGCD is taking a stand to hold Aqua Texas accountable for their non-compliance with their rules and drought contingency plan, but they need our backing. Here’s how you can help:
Support HTGCD’s (Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District) refusal to renew Aqua Texas’ permits until Aqua complies with their permit, including repairing the 40,000,000 gallons in leaky pipes, securing an alternative water supply by moving wells from Jacob’s Well Groundwater Management Zone, and paying ALL penalties assessed for non-compliance.
Below you can find up-to-date news coverage of this issue. Please sign up for the Watershed Association newsletter to stay relevant on our efforts and ways you can get involved.
Village of Jacobs Well 