Hays County wells struggle after years of drought

Key Points:

• The Radiance community in Hays County, founded on self-sufficiency, is facing severe water shortages as its second well went dry in 2025, forcing residents to rely on an older well with a boil water order.
• Wells across Hays County are running drier, requiring deeper drilling due to historically low aquifer levels, with all monitored wells below historic levels as of March and a less than 1% chance of sufficient rain to end the drought.
• The depletion of aquifers, including confined ones like the Lower Trinity Aquifer that cannot recharge, poses long-term risks to water availability in the region, affecting not just Radiance but the broader Hill Country area.
• Lower water levels increase the risk of water contamination from minerals and bacteria, and cause more frequent mechanical failures in well pumps, leading to costly repairs and replacements for homeowners.
• Drilling deeper wells and maintaining existing ones is expensive, with costs reaching up to $75,000, forcing some residents to take loans or refinance homes, and impacting property values due to unreliable water sources.