Austin Water commission backs collaboration agreement for ASR testing after heated public concern

The Austin Water & Wastewater Commission on Thursday recommended that City Council approve a collaboration agreement that would govern stakeholder participation during laboratory and field testing for the utility's proposed aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) project in Bastrop and Travis counties.

State Representative Stan Gertes, who says he represents Bastrop, Milam, Lee, Burleson and Caldwell counties, urged the commission to pause the project and reject the agreement, saying Bastrop residents and local elected officials overwhelmingly oppose injecting treated water across county lines. "Crossing county lines to inject treated water into an aquifer that serves another community is not responsible planning — it's government overreach," Gertes said during public comment. He added that he has filed legislation and would push every available legislative tool to stop the project.

Austin Water staff, led by Director Shay Raulston, told commissioners the collaboration agreement covers only how Austin Water would work with local entities during the…