Critics at meeting in Marble Falls urged to get lawmakers involved in Fairland human-waste dispute
MARBLE FALLS — Concerns continue to mount over an outhouse-company owner’s plans to dump treated human waste on his private property in Fairland, though for now it seems state regulators aren’t likely to intervene.
About 50 people packed the Marble Falls Public Library community room Aug. 7 to discuss their worries over a septic operation that has state approval to dump the waste on 30 acres. They also were urged to contact their state lawmakers.
“I’m really concerned with protecting our water,” said Dannielle Meredith, a 51-year resident of Fairland, which is just north of Marble Falls and is part of an aquifer. “Many people like me assumed the (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality) would not grant this (registration), but they did.”
On June 6, the TCEQ approved a registration to Childress Outhouses LLC and its owner Robert Childress, which allows the business owner to dispose of human waste on his property off CR 121.
Childress said the concerns are misplaced, especially because that is his home and he would never do anything to harm his family or others.
“I don’t think people really understand what’s going on,” said Childress, who didn’t attend the meeting. “I live here and my wells would be the first to be affected — and my kids. I’m not going to do anything that would endanger them.”
The businessman’s home sits inside the 30 acres, as does his water well.
Since June when the issue gained prominence, Childress said he’s spoken to several people who initially opposed the plan to dispose of treated human waste on the property from his septic-pumping and portable-toilet businesses. Many, he added, have changed their minds once they learned the facts about what he’s doing.
“There’s some misinformation going around, I think, that I’m going to have septic pools here — and it’s nothing like that,” Childress said. “There’s a lot of hoops I had to jump through for this. I know (the TCEQ) is going to be watching me. I’m not going to do anything that violates the regulations.”
Under regulatory guidelines, Childress is required to follow several requirements to protect groundwater and surface water. The effluent is first treated with lime to raise the pH level for at least 30 minutes to control pathogens, according to TCEQ.
“The lime really knocks down the odor,” Childress said.
Unless TCEQ commissioners take some type of action during an Aug. 22 meeting, it’s unlikely any changes will be made to Childress’ registration.
Still, TCEQ’s initial approval isn’t sitting well with many of Childress’ neighbors, other residents, the Burnet County Commissioners Court and the Central Texas Groundwater Conservation District.
Several critics have expressed fears over the impact the discharge could have on area aquifers. A quarry adjacent to Childress’ property has dug into an aquifer, thus exposing water to the surface.
“I’m not sure people realize how far I’m from that,” he said.
Under the rules, Childress has buffer zones he must maintain from property lines, water wells, waterways and residences. He’s also restricted to the amount of treated waste he can apply, when he can apply it and at what rate.
In July, the CTGWCD and the Texas Campaign for the Environment filed motions to overturn the registration for TCEQ commissioners to consider.
Eric Allmon, an attorney with the Texas Campaign for the Environment, told the audience at the library that TCEQ commissioners have until Sept. 10 to reconsider.
If they don’t take action, then the motions are basically overruled and Childress can dispose of the human waste on his property as outlined by the state, the attorney said.
The only scheduled TCEQ commissioners meeting prior to the deadline is Aug. 22, and the draft agenda for that session doesn’t mention the Fairland issue. A final agenda is expected Aug. 14.
“There’s a lot of the process that’s happened, and there’s a lot of process yet to come,” Allmon said. “But this is a decision point right now — to get the motions set for the Aug. 22 meeting.”
Robin Schneider, executive director of the Texas Campaign for the Environment, urged the audience to contact state leaders including Sen. Troy Frasier, Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock and incoming Rep. Marsha Farney.
Aycock represents Burnet County in the Texas House but will pass that torch to Farney in January due to redistricting.
“The most important thing you can do right now is contact Sen. Frasier and ask to sit down with him,” she said.
Frasier, the chairman of the senate’s Natural Resources Committee, and other state leaders can influence the TCEQ commissioners, she said.
“You should be holding (your representative’s) feet to the fire,” Schneider said.
Childress, meanwhile, sought to allay any fears and urged critics to educate themselves about what he’s doing.
“I’m not just pumping it out on the land and letting it pool up,” he said. “There’s a lot of rules and a lot of restrictions I have to follow. It’s going to be treated waste.”