Residents worry a proposed lagoon could affect groundwater, while the developer says the project will not impact nearby wells or use city water.
LEANDER, Texas — A proposed lagoon development in Leander is drawing concern from some residents who worry about its potential impact on groundwater as Central Texas continues to grapple with water supply challenges.
The proposed Leander Springs development would feature a 4-acre lagoon filled using groundwater from the Middle Trinity Aquifer. Some neighbors say the project raises broader questions about water conservation and growth in one of the state's fastest-growing communities.
"I live on a well that has run dry before, so I know what it feels like to get up in the morning and get about 30 seconds into your shower and nothing comes out. It’s a sick feeling. So I think about water every single day," Leander resident Julie Beasley said.
Residents say their concerns stem from years of drought conditions and water conservation efforts across Central Texas.
"The truth is that when residents have had to go through rounds of years of where we're literally told we cannot use water, we have to conserve, we have to conserve. So a lagoon is just such a luxury item in terms of water that it is kind of – it's like a spit in the face to our residents," Leander resident Anita Chumnanvech said.
Leander Springs disputes those concerns.
In a statement to KVUE, the developer said the lagoon was designed with a "conservation-first mindset" and will use no municipal water from the city of Leander. According to the developer, the lagoon will be supplied by an independent deep well tapping the Middle Trinity Aquifer and will operate as a closed-loop system that recycles between 80% and 95% of its water.
The developer also said hydrogeological studies indicate the project will have no impact on neighboring residential wells because the aquifer supplying the lagoon is separated from shallow groundwater by a 520-foot shale layer.
Consultant Troy Hill said the lagoon's largest water demand would come during its initial fill.
"It’s about a two-month fill. After it is full the first time, then the yearly amount is equivalent to about what a family of four is going to use over a year. So, a miniscule amount," he said.
Hill also said the developer believes the Middle Trinity Aquifer has sufficient capacity to sustain the project over the long term and compared the lagoon's ongoing water use to other commercial developments, saying it would require less water than many golf courses because of its recycling technology.
The city of Leander declined to comment on the proposal because it is an active zoning case.
City officials are expected to hear public input before considering the zoning request during the Aug. 20 city council meeting.
For some residents, the debate extends beyond a single development.
"We moved to the Hill Country for a reason, to be in the hills and the limestone rocks. If we wanted to live at the beach we’d move to Galveston," resident Katherine Khondker said.
Residents opposed to the proposal say they hope the discussion encourages a broader conversation about balancing future development with long-term water resources as Leander continues to grow.