NewsDrop-August-2024

GENERAL MANAGER’S MESSAGE

By: Roland Ruiz General Manager

WHEN OUR ATTENTION IS FOCUSED SO INTENTLY ON DROUGHT. IT’S EASY TO TAKE FOR GRANTED HOW GOOD THE QUALITY OF WATER FROM THE EDWARD AQUIFER IS

SUS·TAIN·A·BLE adjective OF,RELATING TO, OR BEING A METHOD OF HARVESTING OR USING A RESOURCE SO THAT THE RESOURCE IS NOT DEPLETED OR PERMANENTLY DAMAGED.

Rightly, the prolonged scarcity of rain coupled with searing temperatures that scorch our land raises concerns about having enough during dry times. But if we are to ensure that the Edwards Aquifer remains a truly sustainable water resource beyond drought, then we must pay attention to the condition of the quality of the water as much as the quantity. We have measured and proven the ability of our conservation programs to sustain aquifer and springflow levels sufficiently through droughts, thus preventing “depletion.” But what happens if the quality of the water, regardless of how much is available, becomes “permanently damaged?”

from its historic state of cleanliness. But now, in light of a rapidly growing population and uncertainties around an increasingly unpredictable climate, water quality as much as water quantity must be considered in our planning and conservation efforts. We must do this so that the Edwards Aquifer is assured of staying sustainable, i.e. “not depleted or permanently damaged.” This balance between quality and quantity is reflected in and upheld by our mission to manage, enhance and protect the Edwards Aquifer system. It is why we exist as an agency, why we regulate as we do, and why we endeavor to collaborate with as many people as possible. We want to ensure for gen erations to come that the Edwards Aquifer remains a sustainable, available, and reliable water resource for the benefit of all users and uses across our vast and diverse region.

The Merrian-Webster Online Dictionary

Planning for our water needs has always been predicated on the assumption that the water available from the Edwards Aquifer will remain unchanged

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