Major Victory for Groundwater Protection

In an important victory for local landowners and groundwater protection, the Prairielands Groundwater Conservation District Board has unanimously approved new rules strengthening oversight of large-volume groundwater projects.

The changes come as North Texas experiences rapid industrial growth, including data centers and power-generation projects that can require significant water supplies.

Among the most important changes, certain high-volume permit applications will now face additional aquifer testing and hydrogeologic investigation requirements. Applicants must provide technical information allowing the District to evaluate potential unreasonable impacts and consider measures to address those impacts. The rules also provide for special public notice for these applications.

The amendments also strengthen protections against attempts to divide a single project into multiple applications to circumvent District requirements and revise well-spacing calculations and enforcement provisions. They also strengthen fees and penalties associated with excessive groundwater pumping.

These protections matter as large industrial users compete for the same groundwater relied upon by farmers, ranchers, rural homeowners, and communities.

Economic development is important—but it must occur responsibly.

Prairielands GCD has taken a significant step toward ensuring that major groundwater users demonstrate the impacts of their projects while protecting existing landowners and the aquifers our communities depend upon for generations to come.