04/20/2012
SAWS to TECQ - Only a Matter of Time Until Water is Pollutted
In a letter to the TCEQ about the proposed site, the San Antonio Water System (SAWS) quotes in bold text from a published paper entitle “Detecting Failure of Subtitle D Landfill Liner Systems“: The liner systems being allowed at best only postpone when groundwater pollution occurs.
In this published paper it also states: It is only a matter of time until those groundwaters are polluted by landfill leachate, rendering them unusable for domestic and many other purposes. This is not a debatable issue.
In the SAWS letter it also states: “The proposed landfill would be constructed on the surface outcrop of the Wilcox Formation, part of the Carrizo and Wilcox Aquifers, which supplies potable water for many cities, residences, and industries in the region. The SAWS Buckhorn well field is located approximately 14 miles south to southeast of the proposed landfill. Regional surface and groundwater flow is generally from northwest to southeast. A catastrophic failure of the landfill system at some point in the future could have a deleterious impact on the well field. Surface drainage from the landfill property could also find its way into stream drainage flowing across the recharge zone of the Carrizo. “ From San Antonio Water System letter to the TCEQ dated March 29, 2012
The SAWS $132 Million Regional Carrizo Project & Buckhorn well field recently received approved permits from the Gonzales County Underground Water Conservation District. This cooperative regional partnership will provide the largest non-Edwards Aquifer water supply in SAWS history.
