Hydrology and water quality of the edwards aquifer associated with barton springs in the austin area, texas by raymond m. A number of cities rely on the aquifer as their only source of drinking water. Developers bypass aquifer limits san antonio expressnews. Aquifers versus aquitards edit aquifers are typically saturated regions of the subsurface that produce an economically feasible quantity of water to a well or spring e. Barton springs segment of the edwards balcones fault zone. The edwards aquifer, one of the worlds most productive artesian wells that lies below eight counties, was the regions only source of water for residential, commercial, and agricultural use. Geological survey openfile report 95336 prepared in support of a study by the center for research in water resources, university of. Measured waterlevel altitude in edwards aquifer and simulated altitude of potentiometric surface for.
The animation begins with several detections in 1971 and the detections accumulate as the time line progresses through the years, ending in 2006. Carbonate geology and hydrology of the edwards aquifer in. Investigating the water resources of the western edwards. In the case of the edwards aquifer, various threatened and endangered species rely on that habitat for survival. Aquifer thickness ranges from 200 to 600 feet, and freshwater saturated thickness averages 560 feet in the southern part of the aquifer. Study raises concerns about dallasfort worth groundwater. According to the edwards aquifer authority, more than two million texas citizens, including farmers and landowners, currently rely on its water to maintain their way of life. Hauwert, 2001, water quality and flow loss study of the barton springs segment of the edwards aquifer. The basin has a similar depositional history as that of the south texas region. The barton springsedwards aquifer conservation district was created in 1987 with a directive to conserve, protect, and enhance the groundwater resources in.
Genesis of the edwards balcones fault zone aquifer the. The san antonio water system says that some areas of limestone are denser than others, so water hardness can vary from different parts of the area. This video is a compilation of various edwards aquifer wells. This animation shows instances where mercury was detected in samples of water taken from edwards aquifer test wells.
Permeability of the edwards aquifer is greatest in particular strata lithofacies which have been leached in the freshwater zone. While the edwards stretches from temple to del rio, the barton springs segment is of most interest to austinites since the water reemerges near the heart of downtown at barton springs. The artesian zone, where water springs from wells naturally due to the higher elevation of the recharge zone, extends 1020 miles 1632 km south on the west. The depth of the aquifers base can be found either by fieldwork or by reference to previous hydrogeological studies. On june, comal springs part of the edwards aquifer system and one of the largest freshwater springs in the southwest stopped flowing for the first time in recorded history. The edwards balcones fault zone aquifer is a major aquifer in the southcentral part of the state. Jan 21, 2015 the occasion was the daylong program, history of the edwards aquifer dispute. It consists primarily of partially dissolved limestone that creates a highly permeable aquifer. In this book, gulley tells the inside story of the edwards aquifer recovery implementation program earip, a federally sponsored process put in place by the texas legislature. Proceedings texas water 95, a component conference of the first international conference on water resources engineering, water resources engineering division american society of civil engineers, august 1617, 1995, san antonio, texas, pp. Stage 4 may be declared if the total supply of water from the edwards aquifer and other sources is insufficient to meet customer demand, even while complying with lesser restriction stages. Thats the historic average for october of the j17 well, 658 feet above sea level, the measure that influences everything related to the edwards aquifer. The edwards aquifer the edwards aquifer is a karst aquifer.
A view from the trenches, sponsored by the online texas water journal. Edwards aquifer is not just a key source of water for over 2 million texans. Stewart abstract urban development over the edwards aquifer in the austin, texas, area has. It supplies water for more than 2 million people and for agricultural, muni. This aquifer underlies the edwards plateau, extending through 40 counties from the hill country of central texas westward to the transpecos region. The aquifer also supplies irrigation water to thousands of farmers. Jul 31, 20 the edwards aquifer is at just under 637 feet above sea level as of wednesday.
The eaa regulates the portion of the balcones fault zone edwards aquifer a jurisdictional area that provides water to over 2 million people, and covers more than 8,000 square miles across eight counties. Information concerning the accuracy and appropriate uses of these data or concerning other hydrologic data may be obtained from the eaa. Sep 26, 2017 the edwards aquifer literally is the life blood of the hill country. May 05, 2020 programs for the communitys water management strategy. However, robert gulleys examination of the decades of events that eventually lead to the historic edwards aquifer agreement recounts a history of water that few in texas are aware of, yet all should know. The edwards aquifer authority manages, enhances, and protects the edwards aquifer, one of the major groundwater systems in texas serving approximately 2 mill. Water level maps of the edwards and middle trinity aquifers. The edwards aquifer is at just under 637 feet above sea level as of wednesday. Because the flow of these springs is intimately tied to water usage over the entire edwards aquifer region, human population growth and increased use of.
Threats and reasons for decline both the san marcos and comal rivers originate from springs fed by the edwards aquifer. Cities like san antonio have long depended on the edwards aquifer for water, making it an integral part of the environment and geology of the region. A revised edwardstrinity aquifer gam was released by texas water development board in 2009 anaya and jones, 2009. Travel times along selected flow paths of the edwards. This aquifer is full of limestone, which in turn leaves dissolved minerals in our water. Over the last 10 days, that number has averaged about. A karst aquifer, on the other hand, stores water in fractures, conduits, and cavities fig. San antonio is pumping no more water from the edwards aquifer than they did 20 years ago despite a population growth of 67 percent, kramer said. In fact, this area would not have grown to what it is today without the aquifer.
Francine romero studies texas and edwards aquifer water issues. The study of water flow in aquifers and the characterization of aquifers is called hydrogeology. The water table is the level to which water will rise in a largediameter pipe e. Edwards aquifer authority historical data edwards aquifer authority. B is the vertical distance between the base of the aquifer and the water surface in the wetland.
Find out why saws has been rated a superior water system. Conservation plan keeps edwards aquifer full of life. Located on the eastern edge of the edwards plateau in the u. The key to why the edwards is a good aquifer lies in the fact that the limestone was exposed, extensively eroded, and then covered over again with new limestone. Normal conditions would put it at least a few feet above 640. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Edwards aquifer authority historical water level chart edwards. Pdf water level maps of the edwards and middle trinity. The edwards aquifer in southcentral texas is one of the most productive karst aquifers in the nation. Karstification of the rocks on the san marcos platform during cretaceous time enhanced the permeability of the aquifer.
Carbonate geology and hydrology of the edwards aquifer in the. Developers bypass aquifer limits an obscure state law written for real estate developers drastically weakened city ordinances designed to protect the edwards aquifer from urban sprawl when dallas development firm encore multifamily began eyeing properties for a new apartment complex in the san antonio area, the busy u. User guide this downloadable pdf document explains how to use the tools available in the viewer metadata the edwards aquifer maps come from official printed maps, containing regulatory boundaries based on previous geologic interpretations of the edwards aquifer zonesthat is, the recharge, transition, and contributing within the transition. The edwards aquifer authority is a groundwater district, mandated by the 1993 edwards aquifer authority act. Stage 4 restrictions may be declared at the discretion of the city manager upon completion of a 30day monitoring period following stage 3 declaration. User guide this downloadable pdf document explains how to use the tools available in the viewer metadata the edwards aquifer maps come from official printed maps, containing regulatory boundaries based on previous geologic interpretations of the edwards aquifer zonesthat is, the recharge, transition, and contributing within the transition zones, as defined.
Official edwards aquifer level j17 bexar index well readings, including precipation and temperature information as well as springlfow data. Note the drought period of the 1950s and low rainfall in recent years. A collection of links to help pay your bill, guide home repairs and more. The act grants all of the powers, rights, and privileges necessary to manage, conserve, preserve, and protect the aquifer. Anaya and jones 2009 noted that there remains a paucity of information on the structural geology of the model area along the western margin of the edwards trinity plateau aquifer in the revised gam.
Covering an area about 180 miles long and from 5 to 40 miles wide see figure 11, it is the primary source of drinking water for over 2. The edwards aquifer is an underground layer of porous limestone that stores water. The barton springs segment is managed by the barton springs edwards aquifer conservation district bseacd. Formation of the edwards aquifer present hydrogeology movement and storage of water in the aquifer edwards water quality aquifer protection. Except for the guadalupe river, all streams and rivers that cross the outcrop of the edwards aquifer lose major portions of their flow to the aquifer through joints, faults, and sink holes. It may be confined to small areas around these springs, as no specimens have been collected from other locations in the aquifer. A revised edwards trinity aquifer gam was released by texas water development board in 2009 anaya and jones, 2009. The edwards aquifer literally is the life blood of the hill country. Precipitation in the edwards aquifer precipitation is very important to the ecosystem of the aquifer. The barton springs segment of the aquifer is the smallest of the edwards balcones fault zone aquifer segments at 20 mi 32 km long northsouth and 310 mi 516 km wide.
Extensive development of the trinity aquifer in the dallasfort worth and waco areas has resulted in water level declines of 350 to more than 1,000 feet. The occasion was the daylong program, history of the edwards aquifer dispute. Fish and wildlife services austin office and robert gulley, texas comptrollers office and adjunct professor at texas state university. The edwards balcones fault zone aquifer in the san antonio, texas, area was the first to be designated a sole source aquifer by the environmental protection agency in 1975. You can see water flowing upwards not all wells do this, isopods swimming at water level and. May 07, 2018 the edwards aquifer is not just a source for rivers and springs, it is an important source of drinking water for the people living in the area where the aquifer lies. Degradation of aquifer water quality can lead to detrimental effects on species that rely on the aquifer for habitat. Anaya and jones 2009 noted that there remains a paucity of information on the structural geology of the model area along the western margin of the edwardstrinity plateau aquifer in the revised gam.
The edwards aquifer receives water primarily from streams and rivers originating from the catchment areas on the edwards plateau. How such a large and fractious group came together to resolve one of the nations most intractable and longstanding water problems serves as a case study in consensus. The navarrodel rio confining unit overlies the sub crop of the edwards aquifer, and the hammett confin ing unit lies within the updip, basal part of the trinity aquifer and a small southeastern fringe of the edwards trinity aquifer. Part one of the book gives a lively history of the decades and events that. Conceptualization and simulation of the edwards aquifer, san. Bibliography of the edwards aquifer, texas, through 1993 compiled by julie a. Specimens have been collected from comal springs in comal county and fern bank spring located in hays county. Simulation of flow in the edwards aquifer, san antonio region. Travel times along selected flow paths of the edwards aquifer. We get our water from the areas largest water source, the edwards aquifer. The barton springs segment of the edwards balcones fault zone aquifer is a prolific karst aquifer system primarily discharging at barton springs, the fourth largest spring in texas. Construction projects for the citys water infrastructure. H water level, h g height of aquifer, aq aquifer, b distance between base of aquifer and h. The edwards aquifer system is one of the great karstic aquifer systems of the world.
Threatened and endangered species in the edwards aquifer. Sep 10, 2019 the barton springs segment of the edwards aquifer is a critical groundwater resource, and the majority of its area was designated as a sole source aquifer in 1988 by the environmental protection agency epa, 2018. San antonio water hardness explained kinetico san antonio. The edwards aquifer is one of the most valuable water resources in the central texas area. An aquifer is an underground layer of waterbearing permeable rock, rock fractures or unconsolidated materials gravel, sand, or silt. New restrictions as edwards aquifer at nearhistoric low. As recently as two decades ago, san antonio relied exclusively on the aquifer for its water until a lawsuit forced the city to diversify its water sources and establish. Edwards aquifer authority history edwards aquifer authority.
It supplies water for more than 2 million people and for agricultural, municipal, industrial, and recreational uses. Three years ago, the undeclared edwards aquifer water war came to an end after. The edwards aquifer is one of the most prolific artesian aquifers in the world. The barton springsedwards aquifer conservation district is committed to conserving, protecting, recharging, and preventing waste of groundwater and preserving all aquifers in the district. Related terms include aquitard, which is a bed of low permeability along an. This aquifer provides water for municipal, industrial, and agricultural uses. Geological survey openfile report 95336 prepared in support of a study by the center for research in water resources, university of texas at austin austin, texas 1995.
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