SpaceX McGregor site overpumped wells, records show
SpaceX's McGregor facility has overpumped groundwater for three years, leading to permit violations. To address this, McGregor city officials are planning to expand surface water supplies and water recycling, especially to serve industrial users including a newly proposed Galaxy data center that the city council approved a land sale for.
The SpaceX Rocket Development Facility in McGregor, Texas, has been cited for permit violations by the Southern Trinity Groundwater Conservation District for overpumping groundwater for three consecutive years, exceeding its allowance by more than 120 million gallons. Despite the district's authority to seek injunctions or civil penalties, it has refrained from taking enforcement action against SpaceX or the city of McGregor, which holds the well permits.
In response, McGregor city officials are developing an updated water master plan to demonstrate long-term solutions for water supply. The city plans to invest $400,000 to extend water lines into its 8,700-acre industrial park and to expand the use of a water recycling plant. These measures are intended to offset groundwater usage and support future industrial growth, including a proposed Galaxy data center. The McGregor City Council recently voted to sell 500 acres to this data center project, with projected water needs as low as 3,000 gallons per day. City Manager Kevin Evans stated these efforts aim to avoid litigation by providing an effective solution to the pumping dilemma.