The Editor’s Desk - City Adopts Water, Wastewater, and Drainage Master Plans; Val Verde County Groundwater Conservation District Formation Possible
- Stevie Quilo
- Jun 4
- 3 min read
City Officially Adopts Water, Wastewater, and Drainage Master Plans
The City of Del Rio City Council officially adopted its 2025 Water Master Plan, Wastewater Planning Actions, and Master Watershed Study/Storm Drainage Design Manual on May 27, 2025. This significant step was formalized through the approval of several resolutions, including R:2025-086 for the Water Master Plan, R:2025-087 for the Wastewater Planning Actions, R:2025-088 for the Master Watershed Study, and R:2025-091 for the Storm Drainage Design Manual. These documents are intended to serve as comprehensive guides for managing the city's essential utility infrastructure, ensuring future needs are met, and addressing environmental protection concerns.
These plans provide a crucial roadmap for addressing key challenges facing Del Rio's infrastructure. ICE, the engineer project managers who produced the document, included images and references of studies and analysis conducted by the city, some that had never before been released to the public. Including some controversial topics such as the Hamilton Well studies, Asbestos water lines, and TxDOT interstate developments. They outline strategies for tackling aging infrastructure, accommodating anticipated population growth, and ensuring a reliable and high-quality supply of water for residents, businesses, county, state, and federal agencies.
The Water Master Plan emphasizes the importance of coordination with TCEQ, and the protection of vital natural resources such as the San Felipe Springs and San Felipe Creek and mitigating the risks of flood damage and soil erosion. With the formal adoption, city staff, including the City Manager and Public Works Director, are now authorized to proceed with the implementation of the recommendations outlined in these master plans, contingent upon securing the necessary budgetary resources and subsequent Council approvals. Recommended projects in the Master Plan total in the hundreds of millions of dollars and will likely take decades to complete.
Val Verde County Groundwater Conservation District Formation Possible
A Ground Water Conservation District (GWCD) is presented as a key strategy for managing water resources in Val Verde County and the City of Del Rio, aiming to ensure sustainable supply, protect water quality, and mitigate the impact of droughts through coordinated conservation efforts and technical monitoring. The newly adopted Del Rio Water Master Plan considers the GWCD a best management practice, such a district would unify water management and promote efficient groundwater use. The benefits listed include reducing drought impact, promoting water efficiency, coordinating efforts across the region, and providing technical services for monitoring and analysis.
However, establishing the district is a regulatory process involving petitions signed by landowners, review by state agencies, and potential costs for professional services, representing a significant administrative undertaking. Some members of the Southwest Water Coalition have expressed opposition to establishing a GWCD because they believe it would give their water rights power over to the state. One Coalition member referenced Kinney County’s GWCD and how now their creek has run dry.
Car Washes Still Allowed in Water Restriction Stage 3
Thanks to the recent rain events, the City of Del Rio has not moved into Stage 3 water restriction despite warnings from city officials that the change will happen soon. Stage 3 water restriction policies were released to the public in anticipation. Questions were raised about the effects on local businesses who rely on water for service, such as in construction or car washes.
Originally, the Stage 3 water restriction made it seem like no carwashes were allowed. But an exception was made for carwashes that recycle the majority of their water for reuse within the system. Later, Public Works Director Greg Velazquez made an announcement that all carwashes would be permitted to operate under the same restrictions, recycled water or not. During Stage 3 water restrictions, applied for extreme drought conditions, carwashes are only allowed to operate for limited hours in the early morning. The newly adopted Water Master Plan revealed top water consumers in Del Rio. Bluewave Express Car Wash was a top water consumer, even though they do recycle up to 80% of water. The city is trying to make compromises that reduce water consumption without causing businesses to shut down.
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