The San Antonio Water System has settled on the Abengoa Vista Ridge pipeline and is asking the City Council to confirm their 581-page contract.
A vote would ultimately seal the deal on the public-private partnership; a partnership that would increase the city's water portfolio by more than 20 percent. The 142-mile pipeline, needed to pump the 16 billion gallons of water annually to San Antonio, starts in the Burleson County portion of the Carrizo Aquifer.
Tonight, city council holds a public meeting to discuss the deal as well as to solicit comments. Several groups have voiced support including several of San Antonio's chambers of commerce. Many community activists and environmental groups have voiced concern over the deal and asked the city to defer any deal until after next year's may elections.
One group we haven't heard from yet, but who will be present at the meeting tonight are landowners in the area where this water will be pumped in from. Some residents worry about having the water taken right out from under them.
Guests:
- Michelle Gangnes, resident of Lee county (neighbor of Burleson County), and board member at the League of Independent Texas Voters who have come out strongly against the deal.
- Donovan Burton, chief of staff at the San Antonio Water System
