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Staff cautions that groundwater and horizontal wells near Llano’s reservoirs carry uncertainty and extra treatment costs
Summary
City staff described groundwater options — shallow “groundwater under the influence” wells and horizontal wells drilled under the riverbed — as feasible but uncertain, citing variable production rates, permitting and treatment needs; several residents urged testing horizontal wells as a lower‑cost alternative to dam expansion.
City staff reviewed groundwater alternatives July 1 and said wells influenced by surface water (groundwater under the influence of surface water, sometimes called GWI or “gooey” wells) and directional or horizontal wells beneath lake and river bottoms are technically possible but carry permitting, treatment and production uncertainties.
Why it matters: Staff said GWI wells can be near rivers, streams or lake edges where the water table is shallow and is directly connected to surface water; those wells are subject to stricter TCEQ regulations, require sanitary protection from floodwaters and often require additional permitting, engineering and water‑treatment plant modifications. Staff cautioned there is no guarantee on production…
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