Mineral Wells Area News

Reporting By Gary Norman | Mineral Wells Area News

The Possum Kingdom Lake Association (PKLA) is urging the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to grant a Contested Case Hearing on the City of Abilene’s permit renewal to discharge brine from its reverse osmosis water treatment plant into Possum Kingdom Lake. TCEQ Commissioners are scheduled to consider the request on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, in Austin.

About Possum Kingdom Lake

Possum Kingdom Lake is a 17,000-acre reservoir on the Brazos River, known for its clear water, dramatic limestone cliffs, and heavy recreational use. The lake spans portions of Palo Pinto, Young, Stephens, and Jack counties and is managed by the Brazos River Authority.

The permit would allow the City of Abilene to release the equivalent of 55 rail cars of brine per day into Cedar Creek Cove in the northwest portion of the lake. The effluent—roughly 60% the salinity of seawater—is a byproduct of Abilene’s reverse osmosis plant in Breckenridge, which will draw raw water from PK Lake under existing Brazos River Authority (BRA) contracts.

Concerns Over Water Depth, Location, and Lack of Dilution

PKLA President Monte Land, who has owned property on the lake for more than 50 years, said the Association is concerned that the discharge system was not constructed as designed and that the outfall sits in a location that cannot support adequate dilution.

He told Mineral Wells Area News that the diffuser is installed in water too shallow to disperse the brine, especially during drought, and is not parallel to the shoreline as required by design. The concern, he explained, is that the effluent will accumulate in a low-flow section of the lake rather than dissipate into open water.

“That part of the lake will just turn into a stagnant cove,” Land said, “and that effluent will just build up, and build up, and build up in that area.”

Findings From PKLA Diver Inspections

PKLA funded multiple diver inspections and drone surveys in 2024 that documented the diffuser’s installation. According to PKLA, the pipeline leading to the diffuser is curved rather than straight, and the diffuser is oriented toward nearby shoreline and boat docks rather than parallel to the shore. The Association also says buoy markers show the diffuser is facing upstream instead of downstream as designed. PKLA argues that these issues, combined with shallow water and limited natural circulation in Cedar Creek Cove, raise the risk that concentrated saline could build up over time rather than disperse into the main channel.

PKLA: TCEQ Denied a Hearing Despite Evidence

Land said the Association has followed every step of the TCEQ appeals process but was denied a contested hearing at the staff level. In a November 4 press release, he stated:

“We’ve done everything the right way. We’ve shown the data, provided expert input, and played by their procedures. For the City of Abilene, the (TCEQ) Executive Director, and the (TCEQ) Public Interest Counsel to now oppose a hearing without ever refuting our evidence is an insult to the citizens who engaged in good faith.”

BRA: Monitoring Water Quality but Not Taking a Side

Asked whether the Brazos River Authority supports PKLA’s request for a hearing, BRA Public Information Officer Judi Pierce responded by email that the Authority is not taking a position.

“No. but the BRA will continue to monitor the permitting process along with the outcome of any potential contested case hearing,” Pierce wrote.

In the same email, she said water quality remains a top priority.

“Our Environmental Department gathers water samples for testing at 19 locations on and around the reservoir on a monthly basis, weather permitting,” wrote Pierce

Pierce noted that Abilene’s RO plant was originally permitted by TCEQ in 2018 and that similar RO systems on the lake already discharge brine under existing permits. She added that the BRA began a water-quality modeling study in 2024 to evaluate how development and land-use changes may impact the reservoir.

Regional and Legislative Support for a Hearing

State Rep. David Spiller (HD-68) has submitted a letter supporting PKLA’s request. Commissioners Courts in Palo Pinto, Stephens, and Young counties have also adopted resolutions urging TCEQ to hold the hearing.

During the November 10 meeting of the Palo Pinto Commissioners Court, Judge Shane Long expressed his support.

“I’m in favor of that for the citizens of Palo Pinto County, and we are just simply adding our voice to it to request the public hearing,” stated Long.

To view the TCEQ meeting agenda along with information regarding how to attend in person or virtually, visit 11-19-2025 Commissioners’ Agenda.

A full copy of Palo Pinto County’s resolution—passed November 10, 2025—was included in the meeting record.

If the Request Is Denied

Land said that if the TCEQ Commissioners decline to authorize a Contested Case Hearing, the Association will “explore other avenues to obtain relief.”

About PKLA

According to its November 4 press release, the PKLA is a non-profit, volunteer-led organization focused on preserving the natural beauty, water quality, and recreational value of Possum Kingdom Lake through education, advocacy, and community collaboration. More information is available at http://www.pklakeassn.org.

Note: The City of Abilene declined to participate in this story.

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