NewsDrop-July-August-2026

EXTERNAL AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS | FEATURED STORY

PREVENTING WATER CONTAMINATION: (FRMP) THE FIRST RESPONDER MAPPING PROGRAM

By: Ben Urbanczyk Principal Regulatory Inspector

The Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) First Responder Mapping Program (FRMP) is a proactive initiative designed to protect one of the region’s most vital water resources from the risks posed by catastrophic fires and large chemical spills. By equipping emergency responders with detailed, site-specific facility data, the program plays a critical role in minimizing the threat of contamination to the Edwards Aquifer.

About the Program The FRMP was developed to serve as a practical resource for first responders operating within the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone — an environmentally sensitive area spanning Bexar, Comal, Hays, Medina, and Uvalde counties. The program provides critical, site-specific information to support safer and more effective incident response.

THIS MAPPING INITIATIVE supports emergency preparedness by identifying key site features, including regulated substance storage locations, drainage patterns, sensitive environmental areas, and potential runoff pathways.

The program targets facilities that are regulated under the EAA’s Subchapter F rules and thus store more than 1,000 gallons of regulated substances — defined under EAA rules as any liquid that qualifies as a hazardous substance or petroleum product. The primary concern addressed by the FRMP is the risk of contamination caused by firewater runoff. During firefighting

operations, water can come into contact with these regulated substances and carry contaminants into storm drains, waterways, and soil, ultimately threatening the water quality of the Edwards Aquifer.

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