89R20475 KSM-F
By: Dorazio H.C.R. No. 121
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Edwards Aquifer is one of the most prolific and
pristine artesian aquifers in the world, and it is a vital source of
clean and sustainable groundwater for millions of Texans; and
WHEREAS, The aquifer covers approximately 4,350 square miles
of South Central Texas, and for generations, residents and
policymakers in the region have worked to preserve and responsibly
manage this invaluable natural resource, which supplies the region
with essential water for agricultural, industrial, recreational,
and domestic use; the aquifer is also the primary sustainable
source of clean drinking water for 1.7 million Texans, including
residents of San Antonio, America's seventh largest city; and
WHEREAS, A karst geological system with extremely high
porosity and permeability, the Edwards Aquifer allows for rapid
infiltration of surface water through an extensive network of
conduits, fractures, and faults; this makes it highly susceptible
to irreversible contamination from wastewater discharge and other
emerging contaminants that pose severe and potentially fatal health
risks to humans, wildlife, and ecosystems; and
WHEREAS, The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is the
primary regulatory body responsible for ensuring that no
development within the region compromises the purity and safety of
the aquifer; the Edwards Aquifer Protection Program, created by the
TCEQ, was designed to establish and enforce best management
practices that prevent contaminants from reaching the Edwards
Aquifer during and after construction activities; and
WHEREAS, A study by the Southwest Research Institute, funded
through the city of San Antonio's Edwards Aquifer Protection Plan,
found that any type of wastewater system releasing treated effluent
in the Helotes Creek watershed, such as the proposed Guajolote
Ranch wastewater disposal plan in Bexar County, would
"significantly degrade the watershed and the quality of water
recharging the Edwards Aquifer"; and
WHEREAS, The Edwards Aquifer is an irreplaceable state
treasure, requiring immediate and long-term protection, and
elected officials at every level, along with non-elected regulatory
bodies, should advocate for and implement policies and practices
that safeguard the quality and sustainability of one of the most
valuable natural resources in Texas; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 89th Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby urges the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to take
immediate and decisive action to protect the Edwards Aquifer and
its recharge zones and contributing zones from irreversible
contamination from treated effluents discharged by any wastewater
systems or toxic substances released through construction or other
activities; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward an
official copy of this resolution to the commissioners of the Texas
Commission on Environmental Quality.