TCEQ Makes Decision About Wastewater

Wednesday, a state environmental commission decided treated wastewater will not be dumped into the Highland Lakes.

The TCEQ voted unanimously to deny a petition from the City of Leander and Granite Shoals that would have lifted a 23-year-old ban.

Commissioners said current technology is not advanced enough to safely discharge treated waste water into Lake Travis.

More than one million people, including the City of Austin, get their drinking water from the Highland Lakes.

The Mayor of Granite Shoals says he's disappointed but not surprised by today's ruling.

"We're going to have to take step back and reevaluate and see if our people can afford the additional money to build the plant. We need it, our citizens need it, Lake LBJ needs it. We don't need any more leaking septic tanks under the highland lakes."

The City of Austin and Travis County both opposed lifting the ban.