Environment
Testing finds toxic metals where Tesla lithium refinery discharges wastewater in South Texas

The drainage district that commissioned the testing has sent a cease-and-desist letter to the company, which says it is in compliance with all requirements for its state wastewater discharge permit.

By Arcelia Martin, Inside Climate News
April 21, 2026, 3:15 p.m. Central


A Texas Commission on Environmental Quality investigator tested wastewater from Tesla’s Robstown lithium refinery on Feb. 12. Travis Prater/Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

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After Texas regulators said Tesla’s lithium refinery near Corpus Christi wasn’t violating its permits by discharging what local officials reported as black wastewater into a drainage ditch, independent water testing there this month found two toxic metals and other contaminants.

Eurofins Environment Testing, an accredited lab with locations across the globe, reported traces of hexavalent chromium, a well-known carcinogen, and arsenic, an environmental poison. Nueces County Drainage District No. 2, which manages the ditch, commissioned the test.

Neither hexavalent chromium nor arsenic is included as an allowable discharge pollutant in Tesla’s wastewater permit.

“The results are quite disturbing,” wrote Frank Lazarte, an attorney representing Nueces County Drainage District No. 2, in a cease and desist letter to Tesla’s associate general counsel last week. The district is asking Tesla to stop discharging wastewater into the ditch until they can discuss the lab results.

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