Edwards Aquifer Authority restricts water pumping for Uvalde, San Antonio pools

The Edwards Aquifer Authority, a regional water agency that regulates the use of the groundwater system, declared Stage 3 water permit reductions June 26 for both San Antonio and Uvalde pools, according to a press release.

The 10-day average at the J-27 index well was at 844.9 feet above sea level, which meets the criteria for Stage 3 permit reductions within the Uvalde Pool, the EAA confirmed June 26.

In addition, effective June 24, the 10-day average at the J-17 index well for the San Antonio Pool was 639.6 feet above sea level, which meets the criteria to implement Stage 3 permit reductions, according to the EAA.

The EAA Critical Period Management plan for Stage 3 within the Uvalde Pool requires Edwards Aquifer groundwater permit holders in Uvalde County to reduce their annual authorized pumping by 20%.

The CPM Stage 3 plan for the San Antonio Pool requires EAA groundwater permit holders in Bexar, Comal, Guadalupe, Atascosa, Caldwell, Hays and Medina counties to reduce their annual authorized pumping by 35%.

These reductions apply to all Edwards Aquifer groundwater permit holders authorized to pump more than 3 acre-feet annually. This includes industrial and agricultural users as well as water utilities authorized to pump water from the Edwards Aquifer for delivery to their customers.

“In the event that someone does overpump, or does not abide by our CPM permit reduction, they are subject to our enforcement process, which would be a monetary settlement, or we would seek civil remedies with that particular permit holder,” said Ann-Margaret Gonzalez, EAA senior public affairs administrator. “We have a regulatory affairs department where they will handle those issues with permit holders and work with them to litigate those types of things happening.”

All affected permit holders must also report their pumping totals to the EAA on a monthly basis.

Residents and businesses within those counties who receive their water from a public water system should follow their respective water provider’s directives regarding water use practices, EAA officials said.

EAA officials said the agency does not enforce lawn watering activities or other general water limitations, but rather such activities or limitations are enforced by cities.

The EAA does not regulate the general public but instead regulates Edwards well owners with withdrawal permits authorizing their right to pump from the aquifer.

“Our website is a good resource,” Gonzalez said. “On the homepage of our website you can see the aquifer conditions, which are updated daily by 9 a.m.; that gives you a good snapshot of the health of the aquifer in real time. Also, if people want to learn more about Critical Period Management, they can navigate through our website and learn more from there.”