Rainwater Harvesting Systems Design and Installation Services
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News and Views
Media Coverage
The Future of Water: GMA 9's 30-foot drawdown decision could crimp future growth, The Boerne Star, July 30, 2010
Groundwater Management District 9 decided Monday to limit the drawdown of aquifer levels to no more than 30 feet over the next 50 years.
The action establishs a definitive amount of groundwater that will be available to allocate to new and existing well owners in each county -- something that has never happened before anywhere in the Hill Country, and only in recent years in other parts of Texas.
The Texas Supreme Court gets a chance to rule on water rights, San Antonio Current, June, 9, 2010
The rule of capture has been a tradition in Texas. Now a group of farmers is suing the Edwards Aquifer Authority because it refused to grant them a pumping permit.
Texas Water Development Board finds GMA 9 future conditions unreasonable, The Boerne Star, Jan 23, 2010
The TWDB compiles information from regional water plans and other sources to develop the state water plan which is updated every five years. The process is a "bottom-up" consensus-driven approach to water planning involving 16 regional water planning groups. Each planning group adopts a regional water plan which is sent to the TWDB for approval.
A primary value used in planning groundwater supplies is the "desired future condition" of acquifers. The ruling is a finding by TWDB that sustaining the Trinity Acquifer at current levels is unreasonable. TWDB's ruling would allow greater withdrawals from the acquifer in the future than recommended by Groundwater Management Area 9 ("GMA9") if accepted as part of the final state plan.
Australian water crisis offers clues for California, Los Angeles Times, January 15, 2010
Both Australia and California are experiencing a 3-year drought that began in 2006. An L.A.-based group, the Americans for the Australian Trade Commission, hosted a one-day event in L.A. Thursday, Jan. 14 to bring together water sustainability experts from both sides of the Pacific. Australians cited rainwater harvesting and demand management as the least expensive options for increasing water supplies. Pipelines and dams were among the most expensive options. Urban storm water was cited as a largely untapped source of water generated close to where it’s needed. ... In most Australian cities, as much water falls on that city as the city needs.
2009 UPDATE: SPOTLIGHT ON GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT IN TEXAS, Environmental Defense Fund, report by Laura Brock Marbury, P.G. and Mary E. Kelly, March, 2009
Environmental Defense Fund's report discusses two major issues related to groundwater management in several areas of Texas: the disconnect resulting from the failure of Texas law to adequately recognize the interconnectivity of surface and groundwater resources, and the current Groundwater Management Area (GMA) process and its inability to ensure the long-term viability of our state’s water resources. A 30-page download.
Still spring troubles Hill Country, San Antonio Express-News, news article by Roger Crouteau, November 11, 2008
For only the second time in recorded history, Jacob's Well stopped flowing in October, 2008. Flow from Jacob's Well is closely monitored as an indicator of the health of the Trinity Aquifer, a major source of water to well owners in the Hill Country. Jacob's Well flowed throughout the drought of record during the 1950's.
Reports and Legislation on Water Conservation and Rainwater Catchment
Managing Wet Weather with Green Infrastructure, Municipal Handbook - Rainwater Harvesting Policies, December 2008.
Handbook from the EPA on various municipal and state rainwater harvesting policies
Rainwater Evaluation Report, Texas Rainwater Harvesting Evaluation Committee - Findings and
Recommendations, February 15, 2007
State committee report, findings and recommendations on use of rainwater harvesting as an indoor water source. The committee chairman's summary of findings and recommendations (5 pages).
Rainwater Harvesting Potential and Guidelines for Texas, Texas Rainwater Harvesting Evaluation Committee ,
November, 2006
The complete State committee report on use of rainwater harvesting as an indoor water source. A 45-page download.
Links to Websites about Rainwater Catchment and Water Conservation
Facts about your water supply Do you know what a MUD is? Understand who provides and makes decisions about your water in Texas - Sierra Club of Texas link to three downloadable .pdf files.
Texas Water Development Board FAQs The Texas Water Development Board provides leadership, financial assistance, information and education for the conservation and responsible development of water for Texas.
Need Water? Look to the Sky, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Natural Outlook Newsletter, Summer 2008
Practitioners share their experiences.
HarvestH2O website National and international articles and rainwater catchment information supported by ads.
Preserve Our Water website Articles, information and events with a focus on central Texas water issues. This site has some informative links, articles and pictures of several Central Texas catchment systems.
