NewsDrop-SUMMER-2020

Injection

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ILLUSTRATION ASR Well

T he EAHCP Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) Program is one of four springflow protection measures within the Edwards Aquifer Habitat Conservation Plan (EAHCP) designed to reduce withdrawals during a repeat of drought of record conditions similar to the drought of 1951-1956. This water conservation program is designed to protect springflow from the Comal Springs in New Braunfels, Texas and the San Marcos Springs, in San Marcos, Texas - during times of severe, long-term droughts. Specifically, for federally listed threatened and endangered species that live in the Edwards Aquifer. The goal of the ASR Program is to have 126,000 acre-feet stored in SAWS H₂Oaks center found in southern Bexar County. The stored water is to remain unused until drought of record conditions reoccur and at that time withdrawals from certain Edwards Aquifer water wells owned by SAWS will go unused. In turn, stored ASR water will be distributed to SAWS customers instead. The process would relieve stress on the aquifer during this type of drought. In addition to having stored water available the program also requires that an additional 50,000 acre-feet of Edwards Aquifer water rights be under contract and remain conserved (unused) during the same drought of record conditions.

DID YOU KNOW? 1 acre-foot of water is equivalent to 325,851 gallons of water.