NewsDrop-April-2025

GROUNDWATER PROTECTION & WELLS

By: Ann-Margaret Gonzalez Senior Public Affairs Lead

FOR AN ABANDONED WELL REMEDY and the plans WELL TOLD HISTORY

St. Timothy’s Catholic Church

However, sometimes these old wells remain, weathered, corroded, out of service, but homeowners might not know they exist until water comes up to the surface and begins seeping out. As in the case of an old well that is on a property that was donated to St. Timothy’s Catholic Church in San Antonio, Texas. This story of this well goes back about 110 years to when the well was in active oper ation pumping water into a large pond on a cattle ranch. For decades this well had been abandoned, but at times when levels within the aquifer were high the artesian well would flow. The owners at the time did receive some assistance to try to remedy the issue, but the issue persisted. Ultimately, the abandoned well needed to be located underground, as it had been buried under the front porch, and a permanent solution provided to fully resolve the issue on the property. In 2020, Letty Alvarado with St. Timothy’s Catholic Church began working with the EAA’s Ground water Protection Teamand the San Antonio Water Systems (SAWS) to identify solutions. Since then, Roger Andrade , EAA Senior Director of Regulatory Affairs, has been instrumental in providing the church with resources to help them understand what needs to be done in the case of their aban doned well. Abandoned wells pose a threat to the aquifer, and the three remedies that are typically communicated are bringing the well back into service, capping and plugging. A well is only brought back into service if it’s in good condition to do so, capping is a temporary solution, and plugging the well consists of filling the well space with cement and other materials. Plugging an abandoned well is a permanent solution that ensures it will no longer pose a threat to the aquifer. For St. Timothy’s abandoned well, plugging was identified as the most effective and safe solution for ensuring the well would no longer seep water and that nothing could potentially flow into it.

Roger, Letty, and Gabriel look at historical documents and photos of the abandoned well they are working to remedy.

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Garbriel Gonzalez, Project Manager for the St. Timothy’s said, “WE KNOW

THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING CLEAN WATER AND SAFE WATER IN THE AQUIFER, BECAUSE IT SERVES OUR COMMUNITY PLUS MANY OTHER COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE REGION.”

Hear from Roger Andrade and representatives of St. Timothy’s Catholic Church on the plans for resolving an abandoned well issue: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Bywl0PqYHE

Map of the wells within the EAA jurisdiction.

This is the location of the well site back in 1954 when the well provided water for the cattle ranch pond (left), and the neighborhood surrounding the now abandoned well in 2025 (right).

An abandoned well with an old, deteriorated cap located on property owned by St. Timothy’s Catholic Church.

Wells are an important part of how permit ted municipalities, farmers, and homeowners extract water from the Edwards Aquifer within the Edwards Aquifer Authority’s jurisdic tion. Decades ago, when the area was boom ing with development, the demand for wells

soared, and started popping up across Texas. As time went on, land ownership changed hands, and what was once farmland in Bexar County turned into neighborhoods where the wells were no longer needed because access to municipal water became readily available.

Throughout the agency’s jurisdiction the EAA Groundwater Regulation Team maintains a database of approximately 17,400 Edwards Aquifer wells. The team updates well information as data becomes available, and issues new well con struction, well plugging and well capping permits. Identifying abandoned wells is another key aspect of their work, and in doing so they make attempts to assess the potential risks these wells pose to water quality. Most importantly this team provides guidance to property owners and their contractors to help with water

well issues, which encompasses working with consultants, engineers, environ mental firms, and other agencies to provide technical assistance. It is through the collaboration of St. Timothy’s Catholic Church, the EAA, and SAWS that this once abandoned and forgotten well will be properly sealed, pro viding peace of mind to the owners and for the benefit of the Edwards Aquifer.

WHAT IS AN ABANDONED WELL? https://www.youtube.com/shorts/OintJKEQ4JI

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