EDWARDS AQUIFER

The Edwards Aquifer Authority said the severe drought is not dramatically impacting the Edwards Aquifer because there are legal protections not found in any other groundwater conservation district.

Two cave-dwelling catfish species from the San Antonio area might be added to the endangered species list after federal officials say too much water is being pumped out of the Edwards Aquifer.

Three years of drought & population growth have taken a toll on San Antonio’s main water source

The city of Lytle is now under stage four water restrictions as the Edwards Aquifer level drops amid a lack of rainfall in the Bexar County area.

The aquifer dropped below 630 feet on Tuesday, July 18, a level not seen in nearly a decade.

When the owner applied for a state permit that could pave the way for a subdivision, neighbors and environmentalists rallied against it in the name of protecting the area’s rivers and the Edwards Aquifer.

On Thursday night, the state is getting feedback on a plan to dump hundreds of thousands of treated sewage water into a Comal County creek in east Bulverde.

More than 1,000 acres of uniquely biodiverse land in the Texas Hill Country has been permanently protected from future development.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency plans to investigate allegations that the state is failing to enforce the Clean Water Act. Environmentalists say the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s system of issuing permits has made it too easy for industries to contaminate rivers, lakes and estuaries.

From fentanyl to Texas gun laws, there was a lot that needed explaining this year

Where does the water for San Antonio, which sits on the edge of the Chihuahuan Desert, come from? KSAT Explains.

People living in Grey Forest are concerned about plans for a new subdivision that could impact not only the Helotes creek, but also the Edwards Aquifer.

The Edwards Aquifer is a unique and vital resource which resides several hundred feet below us, and whose daily impact affects everyone.

The Comal Springs streamflow dips to a 10-day average of 92 cfs - the lowest since 2014

As Texas continues to battle drought, groups are trying a market-based solution to help farmers and protect what little water is left.

The Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) Education Outreach Center (EOC) is the EAA’s first permanent facility dedicated exclusively to offering over a dozen interactive and immersive water education exhibits for the general public, schools, and groups to enjoy.

The Edwards Aquifer is the primary source of water for millions around South Central Texas and the Hill Country. Its health and future affects us all.

The Comal Springs streamflow dips to a 10-day average of 96 cfs - lowest since November 2014

The Edwards Aquifer is falling quickly, along with area spring flow.

Protestors from San Antonio, Austin and San Marcos gathered outside San Marcos City Hall on Tuesday to voice their concerns over the development of a new film production studio.

Starting Tuesday, New Braunfels Utility customers will only be allowed to water one day, every other week as Stage 3 watering restrictions go into effect.

KSAT Exclusive: Meteorologists Justin Horne and Sarah Spivey explore a protected, underwater cave

The aquifer drops below 640' for the first time in more than 7 years. Stage 3 restrictions are ahead for permit holders.

If there’s a poster child for conservation efforts within the Edwards Aquifer it’s the Texas blind salamander.

The 10-day rolling average of the Edwards Aquifer has dipped below 650 feet, prompting Stage 2 water restrictions

NOAA released its spring outlook today and it calls for drought to continue thanks to a La Niña pattern.

Due to a drop in the Edwards Aquifer, the City of Castroville has implemented Stage 1 water restrictions.

During Stage 1 water restrictions, residential and commercial customers are only allowed to use a sprinkler or irrigation system for landscape watering once a week.

The 10-day rolling average of the level of the Edwards Aquifer, measured at the J-17 well, has dropped below 660 feet as of Wednesday morning. Utilities that utilize the aquifer use the criteria to trigger restrictions on water use. Stage 1 restrictions will go into effect on Thursday for SAWS customers. Coming out of drought stages can be considered 15 days after the aquifer is above the trigger.

Hundreds of pounds of trash were removed from a Comal County cave in an effort to keep the drinking water quality high in San Antonio.

The aquifer is the primary source of water for millions of us around South Central Texas and the Hill Country. Its health and future affects us all.

Can Comal Count's rapid development coexist with protection of the the county's many caves and the aquifer?

During Stage 1 water restrictions, residential and commercial customers are only allowed to use a sprinkler or irrigation system for landscape watering once a week.

Stage one water restrictions go into effect for SAWS customers on Wednesday.

A pipeline helped secure water for San Antonio for decades to come — at a potentially high cost to some rural residents who are losing groundwater to the big city. Is it a preview for the rest of the state as climate change brings more water scarcity and cities keep sprawling?

A strong earthquake in Alaska may have been detected by the Edwards Aquifer.

Soaked soils will keep the humidity and heat index high this week.

SAWS enters Stage 2 water restrictions as drought conditions persist.

SAWS customers may soon be dealing with Stage 2 water restrictions, should drought conditions persist.

SAN ANTONIO – It lies under San Antonians' feet, and now District 7 Councilwoman Ana Sandoval wants the Edwards Aquifer put into the city charter. Putting aquifer protection into the city charter, though, which outlines the duties and powers of different city departments, would ensure there’s something to replace the program in the future, Sandoval said. The $100 million replacement funding plan would rely mostly on borrowing money over the course of 10 years. “Just because it’s in the charter doesn’t necessarily mean that future city councils or this city council would fund it,” Perry said. Though city council could place a proposed charter amendment onto the ballot, based on the Charter Review Commission’s recommendations, voters would be the ones to ultimately approve or reject it.

Today, this vast system of “holey” limestone around South Central Texas is called the Edwards Aquifer. The porous limestone which makes up the Edwards Aquifer (Copyright 2020 by KSAT - All rights reserved.) How the Edwards Aquifer worksThere are three zones of the Edwards Aquifer - the Contributing Zone, the Recharge Zone and the Artesian Zone. The three zones of the Edwards Aquifer. For more on our changing climate, please visit the KSAT Climate page.

Climate Minute: How We Got The Edwards AquiferPublished: October 14, 2020, 10:09 amKSAT Meteorologist Sarah Spivey explains how climate change and plate tectonics gave us our most abundant source of drinking water...the Edwards Aquifer.

SAN ANTONIO – Stage 1 watering rules will come to an end on Tuesday for San Antonio Water System customers. According to a news release, recent rains and cooler weather has sent the 10-day average for the Edwards Aquifer above the trigger of 660 feet. As a result, SAWS advised San Antonio City Manager Erik Walsh to end the watering rules that have been in place since July 10, which he agreed to do so in consultation with SAWS President/CEO Robert R. Puente, per city ordinance. While the city is returning to year-round watering rules, recent rains and seasonal drop in temperatures reduce the need for outdoor watering according to SAWS officials who urge residents to leave in place once-a-week watering. SAWS customers can still take advantage of SAWS WaterSaver coupons and rebates.

SAN ANTONIO – By a 9-2 vote, the San Antonio City Council on Thursday passed a new funding plan to keep a popular Edwards Aquifer Protection Program going after the sales tax that has funded it since 2000 expires. The program has proved popular with voters, who have approved using the sales tax to fund it on four separate occasions. The new funding plan would allow the EAPP to continue operating as-is but with a new source of revenue. The city would plan to borrow about $10 million per year to fund the program - though city staff said, depending on a given budget, the city could use cash payments. “The Edwards Aquifer and the San Antonio greenways are more robust today because of the sales tax fractions.

The 9@9: 9/11 tributes; mental health pilot program; Edwards Aquifer fundingPublished: September 11, 2020, 10:15 amThe 9@9 features some of the biggest stories making headlines at home, around the country and across the globe. Here’s what’s trending.

San Antonio – The Edwards Aquifer Protection Program could soon have a new source of funding secured, as it faces the loss of the 1/8 cent sales tax that has funded it for the past 20 years. The EAPP and the trails system’s expansion have both been funded through a 1/8 cent sales tax since 2000. But city and VIA Metropolitan Transit officials hope voters will redirect the tax towards a workforce development program and transportation once it expires. City staff have presented the borrowing plan as a way to keep the aquifer protection program going after that point. Mayor Ron Nirenberg, who has been the driving force behind diverting the sales tax towards a workforce development program, painted this as the best solution.

It was on this day in 1956, that the Edwards Aquifer (at the J-17 well) hit its lowest point of 612.5 feet. It occurred during one of the worst droughts in South Texas history. The Edwards Aquifer is now highly regulated, keeping levels from going that low again.

Because it has high levels of calcium and magnesium, it can cause hard water. Kinetico Water Systems points out that dishwashers, washing machines and faucet hardware will break down and require replacement sooner and more often due to hard water. Unfortunately, hard water can also wreak havoc on our skin, causing redness, irritation and inflammation. People who suffer from rosacea or hypersensitive skin may experience further issues, as hard water on your face can result in a never-ending fight with already red skin. If you are having trouble with hard water in your home, Kinetico Water Systems San Antonio is available to assist you with a free water evaluation to your hard water problems.

San Antonio voters will be asked to consider whether to use a 1/8 cent sales to help fund workforce training or higher education for about 40,000 residents. City Council members approved putting the issue onto the Nov. 3 ballot by a vote of 9-2 Thursday. VIA, Mayor agree on plan to use 1/8 cent sales tax for economic recovery, then transportationThe new program is meant to continue the work that a short-term $75 million program council members already approved as part of a $191 million recovery & resiliency plan. The mayor and VIA officials struck a deal in July on sharing the sales tax, with the city getting first bite and then freeing it up for VIA afterwards. Voters will already be considering re-approving a separate 1/8 cent sales for the Pre-K 4 SA on the November ballot.

San Antonio Amid questions over how a proposed sales tax-funded workforce development program would operate, San Antonio City Council members remain concerned about the fate of a popular aquifer protection program. Some also raised the issue of what would happen to the Edwards Aquifer Protection Program. The 1/8 cent that the city is considering for the workforce development program currently funds Linear Creekway Parks and the Edwards Aquifer Protection Program. "I'm going to support a ballot initiative on one condition -- and that is that I get trustworthy and concrete assurances that our Edwards Aquifer protection will continue to protect the Edwards Aquifer," Pelaez said. Voters first approved using sales tax money for aquifer protection in May 2000 and have approved similar taxes three times since then, most recently in 2015.

SAN ANTONIO The worlds largest bat colony can be found at Bracken Cave, just 20 minutes outside the city of San Antonio. Every June, the Mexican free-tailed bats at Bracken Cave give birth to one pup each, bringing the total population up to about 20 million bats. The pups start flying in July which makes visiting the cave in July and August the best for bat viewing, according to Bat Conservation International. They stay tight, like a river of bats, because of predators in the area, said Bracken Cave director Fran Hutchins. The fungus has already been detected on species of hibernating bats in North Texas counties and has also been detected at Bracken Cave.

The ten-day rolling average of the level of the Edwards Aquifer, measured at the J-17 well, has dropped below 660 feet as of Thursday morning. Utilities who utilize the aquifer use the criteria to trigger restrictions on water use. Stage 1 restrictions will go into effect on Friday for SAWS customers. These restrictions apply to all Edwards Aquifer groundwater permit holders authorized to pump more than three acre-feet annually. Like SAWS customers, those who use New Braunfels Utilities will be assigned a watering day based on their home address.

However, we will likely be looking at record-challenging heat, the arrival of a drought, and Stage 1 water restrictions kicking in all at once. Precipitation DeficitIn the last 30 days, many locations in the KSAT 12 viewing area are lagging behind in the rainfall department. For example, San Antonio should have seen an additional nearly 2 inches of rain in the last 30 days, and places like New Braunfels are experiencing a 3+ inch rainfall deficit. For example, in San Antonio we should have seen an additional 1.95 inches of rain in the last 30 days. This is a look at the percent of normal precipitation for the past 30 days.

This marks the first time the aquifer has slipped below 660 feet since September of 2018. Once the aquifer drops below 660 feet for a 10-day rolling average, water restrictions are enacted. Both the Edwards Aquifer Authority and San Antonio Water System use the criteria to trigger pumping restrictions or water use. Water waste includes allowing water to run off into a gutter, ditch, or drain; or failing to repair a controllable leak. Water waste includes allowing water to run off into a gutter, ditch, or drain; or failing to repair a controllable leak.

SAN ANTONIO – Drought conditions have pushed San Antonio and surrounding areas one step closer to possible restrictions. The Edwards Aquifer, at the J-17 well, is nearing the 660-foot threshold. The Edwards Aquifer Authority, which regulates the aquifer, said restrictions on their end may be only a week to 10 days away. Stage one restrictions for the EAA restricts pumping over the aquifer, which affects SAWS. As of Friday, the Edwards Aquifer, at the J-17 well, sat at 661.5 feet.

SAN ANTONIO – Edwards Aquifer levels saw a sharp decline in the month of April and continue to fall after a long period of healthy numbers. As of Monday, the J-17 well of the Edwards Aquifer sat at 664.3 feet. Why is the aquifer level falling? According to San Antonio Water System, Stage 1 restrictions begin when the 10-day rolling average of the Edwards Aquifer level drops to 660 feet mean sea level at the monitored well (J-17). Where can you find the latest aquifer level?

SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio Express-News Business Editor Greg Jefferson stopped by KSAT to discuss the loss of two nonstop flights at the San Antonio airport, Edwards Aquifer protection versus transportation funding and online holiday shopping on the News at 9. Jefferson is also a columnist at the San Antonio Express News. You can read more of his work by clicking here. News @ 9 Business Briefing: SA airport losing 2 nonstop flightsNews @ 9 Business Briefing: Aquifer protection vs transportation fundingNews @ 9 Business Briefing: Shopping online vs in the storeAPP USERS: Click here if you experience issues playing the individual videos

The Edwards Aquifer is responsible for providing millions of people from the Hill Country to San Antonio with freshwater every day. And although a lot of us know that the aquifer is our local source of water, very few understand exactly how the vast underground system works.