A water supplier whose leases would supply a significant portion of groundwater for the Vista Ridge pipeline project now wants to take those leases elsewhere, according to a lawsuit filed in Travis County District Court. The suit by W. Scott Carlson, president of Metropolitan Water Co. in Brenham, argues that Ross Cummings? Blue Water Systems of Austin, has ?failed to share one penny? of $5.5 million in fees received from a subsidiary of the Spanish conglomerate Abengoa that is building the pipeline. Besides constructing and operating the pipeline, Abengoa Vista Ridge, under its contract with the San Antonio Water System, must acquire rights to groundwater. Metropolitan?s and Blue Water?s relationship dates back to at least 2006, when they signed an agreement allowing Blue Water to help find a buyer for Metropolitan?s water. Soon after the San Antonio City Council approved its agreement with Abengoa Vista Ridge last year, that company then told Blue Water it needed to convey its groundwater leases so Abengoa Vista Ridge could secure financing for the project, the lawsuit alleges.

Source: Water supplier sues water supplier over Vista Ridge pipeline payments