SAWS EDWARDS AQUIFER RECHARGE ZONE PROGRAM

San Antonio Water System's (SAWS) major drinking water source is currently derived as groundwater from the Edwards Aquifer. As with most aquifers, it is important to protect the recharge zone of the Edwards Aquifer from contamination such as fertilizers, petrochemical products and other chemical contaminants. To protect the Edwards Recharge Zone of the Edwards Aquifer, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) previously Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) established a requirement to protect groundwater in karst areas and environmentally sensitive areas. Under the Texas Administrative Code, Title 30, Chapter 213: Edwards Aquifer Rule, required systems to evaluate portions of their collection system on a five-year cycle.Meeting the Chapter 213 Edwards Aquifer Rule has been a challenge for SAWS. SAWS is faced with growing population over the recharge zone, no new manpower, and an ging infrastructure. In addition, on August 2001 SAWS received a Notice Of Violation (NOV) for not meeting some of the requirements under the Chapter 213 Edwards Aquifer Rule.The purpose of this paper is to discuss how SAWS decided to overcome this challenge hiring a consultant to assist in meeting the NOV and to develop a five-year management plan. The authors of this paper will present an overview of how SAWS is overcoming the challenge of meeting the 213 Edwards Aquifer Rule.