TCEQ renews temporary manager for troubled water system, sends ammonia plant permit to contested case and approves multiple permits, budgets and enforcement rul

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality on Sept. 10 affirmed an emergency order extending Aqua Texas LLC's appointment as temporary manager for the T.L. Water Jones Acres public water system, voted to refer Nuasis Green Ammonia LLC's new-source air permit application in Nueces County to a contested-case hearing at the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH), and approved a package of other permits, budgets and enforcement orders.

The commission's actions were framed by staff presentations and public comment that highlighted long-running utility noncompliance, community concerns about industrial air emissions and questions about enforcement penalties for repeat violators. Chairwoman Popp opened the meeting and led votes on a range of items affecting water and air permits, watermaster budgets, a state implementation plan revision, and an enforcement docket.

Aqua Texas, temporary manager for T.L. Water Jones Acres

The commission affirmed the executive director's emergency order renewing Aqua Texas's appointment as temporary manager for the T.L. Water Jones Acres public water system. Ben Warms, an attorney in the Litigation Division representing the executive director, summarized the agency's findings: since at least 2017 the utility had been the subject of multiple complaints and enforcement actions for low pressure, outages and discolored or foul‑smelling water; a 2020 TCEQ default order found 32 rule violations; and a 2023 Travis County district court default judgment and permanent injunction followed a referral to the attorney general for civil enforcement.

"This long term neglect for the utility and its customers and the noncompliance with orders of both the commission and the district court led the ED to determine that the utility had been abandoned and that the appointment of a temporary manager was necessary," Warms said. The executive director asked the commission to affirm the July 16, 2025 emergency order renewing Aqua Texas for an additional period (the order contemplates up to 360 days or until Aqua Texas applies to the Public Utility Commission to acquire the utility's certificate of convenience and necessity). The commission voted to adopt the proposed order.

Office of Public Interest Counsel (OPIC) senior attorney Elon Martinez supported affirmation, noting Aqua Texas's reported repairs, continuous…