TCEQ hosts public meeting on Mirasol development

DRIPPING SPRINGS  —  On Monday, Feb. 12, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality hosted a public hearing for the Texas Land Application Permit (TLAP) at Dripping Springs Ranch Park. The Mirasol Springs development group and Murfee Engineering Company (MEC) presented  plans for the property and its proposed TLAP permit.

The meeting started with a presentation from MEC to give a run-down of the current plans that the company is considering and has submitted to the board for approval of TLAP Permit No. WQ0016335001.

The plans include a centralized wastewater system — no individual septic tanks will be allowed for the hotel, branded resort residence or the single-family residences. MEC assured the plan was developed from “expert hydrologists, ecologists, stormwater experts, engineers and utility experts,” to focus on providing several environmental protections.

Some of these protections they promise are consistent water monitoring of Roy Creek, Elder Spring, the farm well, baseline and the proposed drip fields under specific conditions. The collection system for the wastewater has been specifically designed to be enhanced with dual system piping to protect these areas.

At the proposed water recovery facility, there will be around the clock testing with a certified contract operator. The facility will also have alarms for out-of-range readings, a backup generator and an automatic transfer switch, according to MEC.

The TLAP permit will allow for the effluent from the facility to be released in 16.2 acres within the Mirasol Springs development in a drip field which has been tested by WWD Engineers and Texas A&M AgriLife Labs. The subsurface area drip disposal will release 39,000 gallons of treated wastewater a day. The development also plans on using the treated wastewater for irrigation through the residential properties.

The wastewater would be draining through limestone, which is extremely porous, putting Roy Creek Canyon, which is downhill from the 16.2-acre disposal site, in a potentially compromised position for the chlorine- treated wastewater.

Members of Save Our Springs and Save the Pedernales returned to ask the board to not proceed or to do so very carefully. Many residents are concerned with the chemicals released into Roy Creek and other watersheds around, including phosphorus and other nutrients that could contribute to algae growth. Residents believe this process will ruin the river they care so deeply about.

During the public comments section, Lew Adams, a resident who lives in Roy Creek Canyon, said  “it appears that some of the drip fields are very close to the property line of Roy Creek Canyon … So, my question is what are you doing to address the downslope of the canyon?”

MEC responded by saying they are monitoring programs in place for the spring and wells and would work with him or anyone else who had contamination information.

Although the concerns of many residents were brought up, MEC and Mirasol Springs remained confident in their ability to maintain the effluent and keep the canyon and river clean.

The construction is projected to begin summer of 2025 and open in summer of 2027. Mirasol Springs encourages its neighbors and the community to reach out with any questions or concerns. Those who are interested in the project can visit www.mirasolsprings.com. The TCEQ board will make a final decision within 90 days.