The City of White House City Council on July 22 unanimously adopted a resolution opposing high-capacity water well drilling by Pine Bliss LLC and Redtown Ranch Holdings LLC from the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer, saying the proposed withdrawals pose risks to local water supplies and long-term resource sustainability.

City staff reported that both companies submitted preliminary permit materials proposing to withdraw and relocate significant volumes of water from the aquifer to other regions of the state; staff and several neighboring jurisdictions have expressed concern the proposed withdrawals would not benefit East Texas and could draw down the aquifer to levels that reduce recharge and threaten local supplies. Staff noted that concerns have been raised at the state level, including a House natural resources committee hearing and meetings with the governor’s office.

Council approved the resolution directing transmittal of the city’s concerns to relevant state and local authorities. The motion carried without opposition.

Staff said the resolution is intended as a formal expression of the city’s concerns and to join other local governments raising alarms about the proposed projects; the resolution does not itself change state permitting processes but asks relevant agencies and elected officials to consider local water-supply and public-welfare impacts.