Texas Environmental Groups Sue Over SpaceX Wastewater Discharges

Lawsuit claims state regulators bypassed permitting rules, allowing SpaceX to release industrial water into sensitive wetlands.

Three Rio Grande Valley organizations filed a lawsuit against the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for permitting SpaceX to discharge wastewater without a proper permit.
The groups argue that the discharges, which occur at SpaceX's Boca Chica launch site, risk degrading wetlands and violate the Clean Water Act's procedural requirements.
SpaceX uses water as part of its deluge system to protect launch pads during rocket launches, claiming the water is safe and contains negligible contaminants.
The TCEQ allowed SpaceX to continue operations for 300 days or until a permit is issued, a move environmental activists say sets a harmful precedent.
This lawsuit adds to ongoing legal challenges against SpaceX, including disputes over land use and environmental reviews for its operations in South Texas.