New Braunfels Edition | November 2025

Wastewater plant proposed for 117-acre development in New Braunfels From the cover

What the experts say

Two-minute impact

In an email to Community Impact GBRA said the proposed facility would use advanced membrane bioreactor, or MBR, technology and operate under a no-discharge permit. The plant would be used for irrigation within the development under a Texas Land Application Permit. The facility would expand the organiza- tion’s advanced treatment portfolio and purple pipe-reuse systems across the Guadalupe River Basin. GBRA does not operate any wastewater facilities that discharge into the Dry Comal Creek, or DCC, the email states. The Purlsong development will be receiving water from Texas Water Company, or TWC. TWC announced in March that it will deny water ser- vice to nine planned developments across Comal County due to the state’s severe, prolonged drought and rapid population growth. TWC said it has developed a dedicated water supply project in the region to support this previously contracted development. TWC is also working on completing a long- range Water Availability Report, or WAR, which outlines how the company will meet future demand through groundwater, surface water and potential reuse strategies. The WAR directly supports the water supply planning for Purlsong. The development meets all regulatory require- ments of roughly 1.7 million gallons of water per day and is designed to support the community’s full build-out, the email states. As the project is built out, it will be subject to TWC’s Conserva- tion Contingency Plan, which outlines responses to drought and peak demand conditions.

it has 60 days of storage, JA Wastewater President Jamie Miller and a consultant on the project said during the hearing. There would also be generators at the facility to ensure it remains operational during a ood event. “There are mitigation measures put in place so that the wastewater treatment facility—the water from that is being treated—doesn’t ood,” Miller said. Helen Gilbert, an attorney with Barton Benson Jones, representing the applicant, said the discharge permit prohibits runo, which is why the retention pond is “oversized.” “Runo is a problem for the applicant because it’s a violation of the permit. A violation of the permit results in a monetary penalty, injunctive relief [and] enforcement action by [TCEQ],” Gilbert said. Part of TCEQ’s application review does not involve ooding. They only consider whether the facility is in the 100-year oodplain to ensure adequate protection, Martinez said. If Chesmar and GBRA do not receive approval for the plant, then construction cannot start, Martinez said.

The wastewater permit application was received April 2, 2024. Treated wastewater would be stored in two storage ponds, with the capacity to hold 84.7-acre feet of treated wastewater, said Alfonso Martinez III, an environmental permit specialist with TCEQ, during the public hearing. But residents are concerned about the plant’s ability to withstand signicant ooding, which has historically occurred in the area. Angela Allen, a New Braunfels resident and planning and zoning commissioner, said she was concerned about the oodplains surrounding the wastewater facility. “If you look at the master plan that is on record, it does have a 100-year oodplain going through the south part of the wastewater treatment facility,” Allen said. “If you look at the whole master plan, the development surrounds the 100-year oodplain.” Hayden Folks, a consultant for the applicant, said the plant would be located outside of the Federal Emergency Management Agency oodplain. In the event of a rain event, the wastewater facility will not ood or discharge because

Project overview 100-year oodplain Dry Comal Creek City limits 1 Comal County Engineer’s O ce 2 Purlsong plat 1 • 148single-family residences • 6 multifamily condominium lots • 58 condos total • 1.7 million gallons of water per day 3 Proposed wastewater treatment plant • two storage ponds • capacity to hold 84.7-acre feet of treated wastewater

2722

KRUEGER RANCH RD.

1863

The proposed wastewater treatment facility would be located on private property near Oak Creek Drive.

WORD RANCH RD.

SCHOENTHAL RD. N.

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