In a time where every environmental decision shapes the well-being of future generations of Texans, San Antonio and the Texas Hill Country face a critical challenge. Lennar Homes is seeking to develop a subdivision on environmentally sensitive land, a move that poses a dire threat to our city and Central Texas’ precious drinking water source, the Edwards Aquifer.
This proposed development site, the Guajolote Ranch in Northwest Bexar County, and surrounding environs is home to fragile ecosystems that play an essential role in maintaining natural balance. Disturbing this land would not only disrupt wildlife habitats but also jeopardize the purity of the water Central Texas relies upon.
The stakes couldn’t be higher: contamination and depletion of our drinking water source, the Edwards Aquifer, would have catastrophic consequences. The health and safety of our residents are non-negotiable, and any compromise on water quality poses severe risks, including exposure to harmful pollutants and long-term health issues.
Furthermore, this reckless development proposal flies in the face of legal protections and regulations designed to safeguard the Edwards Aquifer. Fifty million dollars of San Antonio taxpayer money has been spent to conserve land in the area to preserve the quality of our drinking water. It makes no sense to turn around and dump sewage on those lands. We cannot allow profit-driven motives to override the public good.
“Our attorneys landed several knockout punches over the three-day hearing,” said Randy Neumann, chair of the steering committee of the Scenic Loop/Helotes Creek Alliance, a neighborhood group supporting the protestants. “This fight is ultimately about the sanctity of the drinking water source of 1.7 million Texans in an eight-county area of Central Texas,” he continued. “The fact that the state agency designed to protect the environment of Texas, and the health, safety, and welfare of its people would even consider issuing a permit to allow one million gallons of sewage per day to be discharged on the Edwards Aquifer Contributing Zone less than five miles upstream of the Aquifer Recharge Zone, gambling with the water safety of such a large swathe of Texas citizens is cause for alarm.”
We call on every member of our community to join us in opposing this dangerous development. Stand with us to protect our environment, our health, and our future. Nothing is more essential to a healthy life than clean water. Together, we can ensure that San Antonio and Central Texas remains a safe and thriving place for generations to come.