Concho River Water Project

 The City of San Angelo has submitted a permit application to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) requesting that wastewater (aka sewage) from their water treatment plant be discharged, after being highly treated, into the main stem of the Concho River east of San Angelo to take advantage of what they call an “environmental buffer.” This process would theoretically improve the water’s quality as it flows downstream, at which point the City would remove the same volume they introduced, treat it further, and then reintroduce it into the City’s main water supply. This process, known as Indirect Potable Reuse, has been used by a few Texas cities in different ways but is generally considered innovative and therefore its impacts uncertain. The permit was sought for several reasons but primarily to ensure the economic growth of the San Angelo area. Proponents say it is a vital source of future water and population growth, as well as a more responsible use of existing resources. Critics say the Concho River is too fragile to be subjected to unproven science experiments that may impact people, plants, and animals in unforeseen negative—and maybe permanent—ways.