This page outlines only the key events in the history of the
Edwards Aquifer Protection Program. For a comprehensive
understanding of our TCEQ regulations protecting the Edwards
Aqufier, we recommend you review the current rules. We also have
several TCEQ publications to assist you and program staff are
always available to answer your questions.
Legislative History
The Edwards Aquifer is one of the most valuable water resources in
the central Texas area. This aquifer provides water for municipal,
industrial, and agricultural uses. A number of cities rely on the
aquifer as their only source of drinking water. In the past, the
Aquifer has proved to be a reliable source of water through severe
droughts. In fact, the Aquifer is the sole source of drinking water
for over 1.7 million people in Central Texas. It covers 4,350
square miles in parts of 11 counties.
Over wide areas, the aquifer produces large volumes of water
from several layers of highly permeable and porous honeycombed
rock. Because the aquifer is highly permeable, and has rapid
recharge and discharge, the aquifer produces large quantities of
water. However, these same properties make the aquifer highly
vulnerable to contamination where it is exposed at the surface in
the aquifer recharge zone. Pollutants on and near the surface can
directly enter the aquifer with little natural attenuation and
travel long distances in a relatively short period of time.
In 1959, the Texas Legislature created the Edwards Underground
Water District. The district supplied maps that were previously
unavailable, and assisted licensing authorities. The importance of
protecting the quality of the water in the Edwards Aquifer was not
recognized until 1970, when the Texas Water Quality Board issued
the first regulations for the protection of the aquifer recharge
and buffer zones.
The first counties affected were Kinney, Uvalde, Medina, Bexar,
Comal, and Hays. Sources of pollution such as underground storage
tanks, above-ground storage tanks, and sewer lines were
regulated.
Water-pollution abatement plans were first required in 1974. By
1984, the plans were required for regulated developments including
residential, commercial, and industrial. A geologic assessment was
required for housing developments with 100 or more family living
units, and non-residential developments greater than 5 acres. Also
in 1984, ongoing testing requirements for sewer lines were
established.
Beginning in 1977, the installation of new underground storage
tank sites had to be approved prior to construction. The sites were
required to have double walled tanks and piping as well as a method
of leak detection. These standards were in advance of the statewide
regulations on underground storage tank systems that first went
into effect in 1989.
In 1988, fees were assessed for all types of development. As a
result of legislation, the schedule of fees was increased in 1997.
These one-time fees cover the review of the protection plans as
well as inspections during and after construction is complete. The
money is used to support program efforts.
Upon petition by local government, construction activities in
portions of Williamson County became regulated in 1986. Then in
1990, construction in portions of Travis County was first
regulated.
Also in 1990, geologic assessment requirements for residential
developments were decreased to 25 or more units, plus notification
of recharge features was made mandatory. Today, a geologic
assessment is required for all new, regulated developments except
residential sites less than 10 acres.
Significant rules changes went into effect in 1999. The changes
included a design performance standard for permanent best
management practices. The standard applies to water quality systems
used for stormwater treatment. Examples include sand filtration
basins, extended detention basins, and retention ponds with
irrigation systems. The rules also require engineers to certify the
construction of the systems and to ensure maintenance of these
systems.
The 1999 rules changes brought the contributing zone into
regulation. Regulated activities are those that have the potential
for polluting surface streams that will cross the recharge zone,
including large construction projects and installation of petroleum
storage tanks.
In 2001, the agency began distributing contributing-zone plans
to affected municipalities, counties, or groundwater conservation
districts according to House Bill 2912 (71st regular legislative
session), which added Texas Water Code 26.137, mandating a 30-day
public comment period for the applications. Also as a result of
thit House Bill, the program has posted annual expense reports.
For More Information
You may also speak directly with the TCEQ staff by calling our
offices in
Austin (Region 11) or
San Antonio (Region 13).
