Well Protection Program

George Wissmann, TGRGCD General Manager

 

For most of us residing in the San Antonio/Bexar County area, we rely on municipal utilities to provide water and wastewater services. However, our District, spanning a wide swath across northern Bexar County, is comprised of not only urban and suburban, but also a sizable rural population. For many living in these outlying areas, the infrastructure required to obtain these services is not in place.  Numerous long-established subdivisions and homesteads across northern Bexar County rely on individual wells and septic systems as their sole source of water and wastewater treatment.

 

Recently, some homeowners have experienced, firsthand, the impacts of continued drought conditions on their wells. First, it is important to understand, that while northern Bexar County wholly overlies the Trinity Aquifer, some areas within that aquifer are more reliably productive than others. Wells drilled several years, or even decades, ago may only have been completed into the first water source encountered at that time,  or completed in the upper or middle sections, or strata, of the Trinity Aquifer. These sections have undergone water level declines during drought conditions. New wells are now being completed into the Cow Creek formation of the Trinity Aquifer which consistently yields more water than the strata above.

 

As a well owner, there is basic, but critical, information you need to know about your well.  This includes the well depth, the depth at which the pump is sitting, the current water level, and any storage capacity information, if present.  This information can often be obtained through your well driller or well service provider, and can save a well owner from water level problems resulting in reduced production, or from incurring costly equipment repairs, e.g. pump failure, pump column damage, or electrical issues. Taking it a step further, correlating this information with your local groundwater conservation district's monitor well network as well as neighboring well information, when available, can act as a proactive measure safeguarding your investment.

 

The Trinity Glen Rose Groundwater Conservation District has numerous water level monitor wells located across northern Bexar County. This information can be viewed on our website or obtained by contacting the District office.

 

For more information visit the TGRGCD website at www.trinityglenrose.com or contact the District office at 210-698-1155.