It is one of the greatest natural resources on earth, serving the diverse agricultural, industrial, recreational, and domestic needs of almost two million users in south central texas. Location of hydrogeologic sections through the edwards aquifer in the san antonio area, texas 7. Water level data are critical for eaas management of the san antonio pool and the uvalde pool of the edwards aquifer. The rocks of the san marcos platform predominantly are micrites that locally contain collapse breccias, honeycombed, burrowed mudstones, and rudist reef deposits that are well leached and very permeable. San antonio protecting one of the primary sources of our drinking water is a laborintensive process. News, maps, information and action alerts pertaining to environmental and aquifer protection. Geological survey city water board of san antonio texas department of hater resources lp1 october 1980. Edwards aquifer authority eaa groundwater level monitoring data line. San antonio inches away from september rainfall record. In texas, climatologists use october as the beginning of the water year. Woodbine is a smaller aquifer that sits on top of the. Three stratigraphic columns across the san antonio area represent the edwards aquifer.
Some of these declines have resulted in significant landsurface subsidence, particularly in the houstongalveston area. Saws reserves the right to make retroactive changes as system and operational situations are discovered and resolved. Aquifers that dip below the surface, or that portion of an aquifer that is dipping below the surface in part of its extent, and that are covered by other, less permeable, formations known as aquitards or aquicludes, are under pressure of the confining rocks. Relation of water chemistry of the edwards aquifer to hydrogeology and land use, san antonio region, texas by paul m.
The cab is comprised of nine members appointed by the san antonio city council for twoyear terms. Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members its free and quick. When the aquifer level drops below 676 feet, the springs stop flowing and the. Automated groundwater level wells water data for texas. Simulation of the flow system of barton springs and associated edwards aquifer in the austin area, texas. Edwards aquifer recharge zone surfacewater and groundwater. Sep 11, 2018 although the steady rain has brought the j17 index well up to 659. Weather forecast for san antonio, texas, live radar, satellite, severe weather alerts, hour by hour and 7 day forecast temperatures and hurricane tracking from ksat weather authority and. San antonio water hardness explained kinetico san antonio. Temperatures will warm back up to the low90s for sunday afternoon, ahead of our next cold front. Generalized structural surface of the top of the edwards aquifer in the san antonio area, texas 6.
Geological survey, in cooperation with the san antonio water system, did a study using historical data to statistically analyze hydrologic system components in the san antonio region of texas and to develop transferfunction models to simulate water levels at selected sites wells in the edwards aquifer on the basis of rainfall. Hydrogeologic factors that affect the flowpath of water in selected zones of the edwards aquifer, san antonio region, texas. However, if much water is pumped from it, especially during drought, the water level in the aquifer can drop quickly. This fact sheet highlights findings from the vulnerability study of a publicsupply well field in san antonio, texas. Carbonate geology and hydrology of the edwards aquifer in. The edwards aquifer maxwell school syracuse university. The texas water development board twdb specifically disclaims any and all liability for any claims or damages that may result from providing these data. Weather san antonio forecast, radar, severe alerts ksat. That should mean good news for consumers the rest of the summer, even prompting this. Water quality is generally good northeast of the san antonio river basin, but deteriorates to the southwest. Water levels are measured around the clock using different devices in monitoring wells throughout the aquifer. Overnight showers expected in south texas kens 5 forecast. Groundwater availability models texas water development. Lp 1 hydrochemical data for the edwards aquifer in the san.
The aquifer system is composed of the catahoula, oakville, fleming, goliad, willis, lissie, bentley, montgomery. Central texas plenty of rain has fallen in central texas recently, hitting just the right spots in san antonio to raise the edwards aquifer levels. Buszka abstract waterchemistry data from the edwards aquifer for 197685, consisting of nearly 1,500 chemical analyses from 280 wells and 3 springs, were used to. Waterlevel altitudes and continuous and discrete groundwater. About 200,000 acrefeet an acrefoot of water is equivalent to 325,851 gallons. Explore realtime water data using new products from usgs txwsc view over 750 usgs realtime stream, lake, reservoir, precipitation, and groundwater stations in context with current weather and hazard conditions on both desktop and mobile devices.
The competition for ground water from the edwards aquifer has created some controversial water issues in central texas. Storms lift edwards aquifer to highest level in years. Edwards aquifer authority home edwards aquifer authority. Water levels are measured around the clock using different devices monitoring wells throughout the aquifer. Hydrogeologic sections of the edwards aquifer and its confining units in the san antonio area, texas by ted small u. We tout the san antonio river as a marvelous tourist attraction, but neglect to understand the limits of one natural resource, water. The dissolutioned, faulted limestone aquifer is the major source of water for bexar, comal, hays, medina, and uvalde counties. Center the map where you want the center of your print, enter a title in the textbox and choose a page size for your print using the drop down. Aquifer storage is correlated with water levels recorded in the j 17 bexar. We get our water from the areas largest water source, the edwards aquifer. Transmissivity of the edwards aquifer in the san antonio area, texas, based on flowmodel analysis 8. Recharge to and discharge from the edwards aquifer in the. The rocks of the san marcos plat form form the most transmissive part of the edwards aquifer in the san antonio.
Environmental protection agency 2003, the aquifer is critical to farming and ranching economies west of san antonio and recreational economies. Geological survey waterresources investigations 954030 prepared in cooperation with the san antonio water system austin, texas 1995. 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. The aquifer is hydrologically separated into the austin and san antonio. The aquifer is also vital to the agricultural and light industrial economy of the region. The aquifer protection and evaluation section of saws is engaged in the development process over the recharge zone in bexar county as it relates to the protection of our prevailing source of water. The edwards aquifer is one of the most prolific artesian aquifers in the world. The contributing zone occurs on the edwards plateau, also called the texas hill country. The san antonio segment of the edwards aquifer in southcentral texas is the primary water supply for more than a million people in san antonio and the surrounding bexar county area. The edwards aquifer is a unique groundwater system and one of the most prolific artesian aquifers in the world. Prepared in cooperation with the san antonio water system waterquality observations of the san antonio segment of the edwards aquifer, texas, with an emphasis on processes.
The well field consists of six production wells that tap the edwards aquifer. Aquifer storage is correlated with water levels recorded in the j17 bexar. Saws tests sewer pipes to keep edwards aquifer water clean. 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 in 30 tac 2. Nestor is now expected to bring 1 to 3 inches of rain to inland areas as it moves northeast across georgia and then heads sunday into the carolinas. Click here to learn about the regular discovery tour, which will resume once the aquifer has returned to normal levels. At these two locations, groundwater divides separate the san antonio segment of the aquifer from other edwards limestone units, so their waters do not. Edwardstrinity plateau and pecos valley aquifers gam. Water level data are used for many purposes, including as criteria for determining when to impose groundwater withdrawal continue reading water level monitoring. Dec 16, 2015 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. Under proposition 1, the city of san antonio will continue the watershed protection and preservation projects initiated in 2000 and continued through 2010. The edwards aquifer and its catchment area in the san antonio region is about 8,000 square miles and includes all or part of counties in southcentral texas. Heavy rains mean good news for edwards aquifer for now the. Hydrochemical data for the edwards aquifer in the san antonio area, texas by robert w.
Located in south central texas, the edwards aquifer incorporates an area of. The edwards aquifer is a group of limestones and is considered a highly heterogenic aquifer. Geology and hydrology of the edwards aquifer in the san antonio area, texas. Saws is required by the texas commission on environmental quality to run smoke tests to. Homepage of agua, a nonprofit environmental action organization protecting san antonio s primary drinking water source, the edwards aquifer.
It lies under all or parts of 18 counties in north texas. San antonio its been more than a decade since the edwards aquifer has been so high this deep into july. Waterlevel altitudes and continuous and discrete groundwater quality at and near an aquifer storage and recovery site, bexar, atascosa, and wilson counties, texas, june 2004september 2011 prepared in cooperation with the san antonio water system waterlevel altitudes and continuous and discrete. Mar 04, 2014 the authority, which regulates pumping from the aquifer, predicts it may have to declare stage iv of its critical period management plan for the first time for users of the san antonio pool, which. The glen rose aquifer is the local underground water reservoir.
Recent j17 index well readings are available from the san antonio water system. This aquifer lies beneath the caverns, and under normal circumstances the water table is not high enough to be seen. The edwards aquifer authority manages, enhances, and protects the edwards aquifer. Some forums can only be seen by registered members. Potential for updip movement of saline water in the edwards aquifer, san antonio, texas. Management of the edwards aquifer guadalupeblanco river. View the edwards aquifer maps of regulated zones with your web browser. Geological survey waterresources investigations report 854259 prepared in cooperation with the san antonio city water board and the texas department of water resources austin. Unfortunately, it wasnt enough to change the stage 2 water restrictions. Designated a solesource aquifer in the san antonio and austin areas by the u. The cow creek groundwater conservation district ccgcd or district was created for the purpose of conserving, preserving, recharging, protecting and preventing waste of groundwater from the aquifers within kendall county. Aquifer protection and evaluation the aquifer protection and evaluation section of saws is engaged in the development process over the recharge zone in bexar county as it relates to the protection of our prevailing source of water. Groundwater data viewer texas water development board. Heavy rains mean good news for edwards aquifer for now.
Geologic framework and hydrogeologic characteristics of the edwards aquifer outcrop, hays county, texas. This aquifer is full of limestone, which in turn leaves dissolved minerals in our water. Geologic framework and hydrogeologic characteristics of the edwards aquifer recharge zone, bexar county, texas by william g. The aquifer level at the j17 index well in bexar county rose about seven feet since wednesday, from 646. Study raises concerns about dallasfort worth groundwater levels, quality. Aquifer protection and evaluation san antonio water system. These junior rights could not be used if aquifer levels fell below. Aquifer levels sinking fast san antonio expressnews. The san antonio segment of the aquifer extends in a 160 mile archshaped curve from brackettville in the west to near kyle in the northeast, and is between five and 40 miles wide at the surface.
The edwards aquifer is designated by the epa as a sole source drinking water supply for the 1. According to the texas water development board, nine aquifers supply about 97 percent of the groundwater used in texas. Oct 14, 2012 years ago i was blessed with the opportunity of researching san antonio and her history. Hydrologic sections of the edwards aquifer and its confining units in the san antonio area, texas.
Edwards aquifer, central texas geosciences libguides. The aquifer protection and evaluation section of saws is engaged in the. Abundance of rain, bountiful aquifer could make for no. It is on a major edwards flowpath and responds quickly to pumpage and recharge, so it has been used for many decades to record changes in the level of the aquifer in the san antonio area. Sanantoniorodeo desolate images of the san antonio river walk local sa city council slides coronavirus timothy mcmeans wins kens 5. Edwards aquifer authority water level monitoring edwards.
After you create your account, youll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new postsday with fewer ads. The gulf coast aquifer forms an irregularly shaped belt that parallels the texas coastline and extends through 54 counties from the rio grande northeastward to the louisiana border. The level of the aquifer in the san antonio pool reached 686 feet above mean sea level june 6, the highest since 2007. Years ago i was blessed with the opportunity of researching san antonio and her history.
These stratigraphic units are known as the maverick basin. The edwards aquifer protection program is overseen by the conservation advisory board cab. This page displays provisional, unaudited raw data. The aquifer is susceptible to anthropogenic contaminants from urbanization and nutrients and pesticides are commonly detected in the aquifer.
The edwards aquifer is the sole source of public water supply for more than 1 million people in the san antonio area and supplies large quantities of water for agriculture, industry, and the military. The authority, which regulates pumping from the aquifer, predicts it may have to declare stage iv of its critical period management plan for the first time for users of the san antonio pool, which. City ordinance provides for nominees from the following subdivisions, agencies or organizations. Years of heavy pumpage have caused significant water level declines in portions of the aquifer. San antonio the aquifer rose close to seven feet over the weekend. For example, since the ground level at j17 measures 730. Months of heavy rains have raised the water level in the edwards aquifer to its highest since 2010. The level of the j17 well has ranged from 612 feet during the 1950s drought to.
During the mid1950s, texas experienced a recordsetting drought, known today as the. The water is withdrawn during dry periods recovery mode to help maintain spring flows in new braunfels and san marcos, ensuring the protection of endangered species. He has spent nearly a decade forecasting south texas weather, while also. Although the steady rain has brought the j17 index well up to 659.
At these two locations, groundwater divides separate the san antonio. The edwards aquifer in southcentral texas is one of the most productive aquifers in the nation and is the primary source of water for the rapidly growing san antonio area. In 1983, the city of san antonio and the edwards underground water district euwd. Plans czp submitted to the texas commission on environmental quality tceq. Major faults of the balcones fault zone and relation to the edwards aquifer in the san antonio area, texas 5. Considering we have this hard water to deal with, we should always think about the importance of a water softener. The level of the j17 well has ranged from 612 feet during the 1950s drought to 703 feet after historic rains in 1991 and 1992. Storms lift edwards aquifer to highest level in years san. For additional information, including water level and water quality data, search the twdb groundwater database gwdb.
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