Water conservation in Austin TX is vitally important

_{Everyone in Central Texas is concerned about the drought, and we decidedopresent some very valuable insight into the issue written by author Christi Covington over the next several days.  We hope our readers will find it interesting and join us in the campaign to use water wisely!}

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Although Austin’s water sources for recreation and aesthetics might be suffering from the drought, the city does not have to worry about its drinking water. Austin contracts with the Lower Colorado River Authority as its supplier. After the Green Water Treatment Plant was decommissioned last year, the city relies on Ullrich and Davis treatment plants, two aging but productive facilities. A new plant is also in the works.

Meanwhile, drought or no drought, the city maintains its water conservation division for six reasons, according to Sonja Stefaniw, division manager of water conservation for the Austin Water Utility.

One is community values — it is what residents want as a whole. The second is a realization that growth is coming and water is a finite resource. Third, if the city extends its water supply, it postpones paying for the additional resources. The fourth reason, related to the third, is that less water means lower bills for consumers. Reduction of environmental impact is the fifth reason. Stefaniw said pumping and treatment of water results in undesirable greenhouse gases. Finally, less water demand means Austin can delay expanding its infrastructure, which again, saves on costs.

One of the city’s main programs began last year with mandatory watering restrictions for all residents and businesses during the summer months. The result was 5 million to 9 million gallons of water saved per day.

1. Barton Springs Zone: It is the groundwater portion of the Edwards Aquifer that feeds Barton Springs.

2. Watersheds: These land surface areas drain into the streams that run largely east-west on the Edwards Aquifer, which stretches south-north. Barton Springs Zone watersheds include the Barton Creek, Onion Creek, Bear Creek, Little Bear Creek, Slaughter Creek and Williamson Creek watersheds.

3. Recharge Zone: It sits within the Barton Springs Zone of the Edwards Aquifer and is the most sensitive area because it is porous at the surface. Water that hits it enters the ground quickly.

4. Contributing Zone: It sits on the west side of the Barton Springs Zone of the Edwards Aquifer in the Hill Country. Water often flows downhill and feeds the recharge zone.

5. Karstic Limestone: It is the rock feature in the Barton Springs Zone that makes the ground porous. Often likened to Swiss cheese, it is filled with holes where water can flow.

6. Runoff: It is the water that does not enter the ground but flows toward streams. It is often associated with carrying pollutants after it hits impervious cover, which is anything from rooftops to parking lots.

7. Balcones Fault Zone: It is believed to have formed during an earthquake. Its unusual vertical layers allow water to enter the ground quickly. It is also responsible for numerous Central Texas caves.

Low down on the flow down

Edwards Aquifer, like any aquifer, is a permeable rock body with water-filled pores that act a bit like a sponge. The challenge with the Barton Springs portion of the Edwards Aquifer is karst, which is dissolved limestone filled with large holes, like Swiss cheese. It can replenish quickly, but it also empties more quickly than other aquifers. Within the Barton Springs segment are zones defined by their different levels of sensitivity.

The most sensitive is the recharge zone. Here, karst rocks close to or at the surface allow the water to enter quickly. West of the recharge zone is the contributing zone where the aquifer is eroded. When rain hits the surface, it is more likely to flow downhill in shallow streams to the recharge zone, rather than quickly entering the ground after a rain. It eventually enters the recharge zone.

Author: Christi Covington – Comm Impact Newspapers