Halt Toxic Discharge in the Lower Colorado
What WeDrink
Direct Support
A coalition lawsuit to stop illegal industrial solvent discharge into the Lower Colorado River, protecting drinking water for three Texas counties.
Overview
Drivers of Outrage
State inspectors logged 14 permit exceedances at a single outfall over two years while the operator faced no penalty.
14 exceedancessince 2024
State inspection reports document fourteen separate permit violations at the Bastrop County outfall.
TCEQ inspection records 2024-2026
6.2x the limitpeak solvent reading
Chlorinated solvent concentrations measured at more than six times the permitted maximum.
TCEQ sampling data, March 2026
3 countiesdownstream water supply
Three counties draw municipal drinking water downstream of the discharge point.
Texas Water Development Board
14 exceedancessince 2024
State inspection reports document fourteen separate permit violations at the Bastrop County outfall.
TCEQ inspection records 2024-2026
6.2x the limitpeak solvent reading
Chlorinated solvent concentrations measured at more than six times the permitted maximum.
TCEQ sampling data, March 2026
3 countiesdownstream water supply
Three counties draw municipal drinking water downstream of the discharge point.
Texas Water Development Board
Funding the Action
Funds cover expert hydrology testimony, independent water sampling across twelve sites, filing and discovery costs, and community outreach for the public comment period.
Matched 2x under the Founder’s Pledge while the match remains open.
Potential Outcomes
A consent decree restoring the original discharge limits, penalties funding local water monitoring, and a public sampling record downstream counties can rely on. Even without a favourable ruling, the evidentiary record supports future permit challenges.
The Bigger Picture
Clearwater Accountability Alliance
Clearwater Accountability Alliance is a Texas nonprofit that pursues administrative and judicial remedies against industrial polluters discharging into state watersheds.