An Overview of Groundwater Quality in Texas Cary L. Betz, P. G. Groundwater Planning and Assessment Team, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

An Overview of Groundwater Quality in

Texas

Cary L. Betz, P. G.Groundwater Planning and Assessment

Team, Texas Commission on Environmental

Quality

While much of the spotlight has been focused on determining how much groundwater is available, and where it is found . . .

While much of the spotlight has been focused on determining how much groundwater is available, and where it is found . . .

While much of the spotlight has been focused on determining how much groundwater is available, and where it is found . . .

Sampling and analysis ofgroundwater quality hasalso been taking place.

Groundwater Quality Programs

• USGS National Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program

• USGS National Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program

• TWDB Ambient Groundwater Monitoring Program

Groundwater Quality Programs

Groundwater Quality Programs

• USGS National Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program

• TWDB Ambient Groundwater Monitoring Program

• TCEQ Public Water Supply Drinking Water Quality Monitoring Program

NAWQA

• South Central Texas

NAWQA

• South Central Texas

• Trinity River Basin

NAWQA

• South Central Texas

• Trinity River Basin• High Plains

Regional Ground Water Study

Ambient Groundwater Monitoring

• 129,826 wells

Ambient Groundwater Monitoring

• 129,826 wells• Anions, Cations,

and Infrequent Constituents

State Well Number Month Day Year Sample Number Storet Code Qualifier Concentration Other3458904 10 10 1986 1 1045 1303458904 4 27 1993 1 10 26.53458904 4 27 1993 1 90 -291.73458904 4 27 1993 1 608 0.553458904 4 27 1993 1 613 < 0.013458904 4 27 1993 1 618 < 0.01

Ambient Groundwater Monitoring

• 129,826 wells• Anions, Cations,

and Infrequent Constituents

• Major Aquifers

Ambient Groundwater Monitoring

• 129,826 wells• Anions, Cations,

and Infrequent Constituents

• Major Aquifers• Minor Aquifers

Ambient Groundwater Monitoring

• 129,826 wells• Anions, Cations, and

Infrequent Constituents

• Major Aquifers• Minor Aquifers• Basis for the

groundwater portion of the State’s Water Quality Inventory (305(b) report)

State of Texas Water QualityInventory

N

Aquifers Inventoried in the 1998 Report -Majors: Cenezoic Pecos Alluvium, Edwards-Trinity, Ogallala. Minors: Capitan Reef, Ellenberger, Hickory, Marble Falls, Rita Blanca, Rustler

Aquifers Inventoried in the 2000 Report -Majors: Gulf Coast, Hueco-Messilla Bolsons, SeymourMinors: Blaine, Blossom, Bonespring- Victorio Peak, Lipan, Nacatoch, Woodbine

Aquifers Inventoried in the 2002 Report -Majors: Carrizo-Wilcox,Edwards - Balcones Fault Zone Trinity, Minors: Brazos, Dockum, Edwards-Trinity High Plains, Igneous Marathon, Queen City,Sparta,West Texas Bolsons,Yegua

Major Aquifer

Minor Aquifer

Public Drinking Water Monitoring

• Monitors “Entry Points” to Public Water Supply Systems

Public Drinking Water Monitoring

• Monitors “Entry Points” to Public Water Supply Systems

• Large suite of potential drinking water contaminants

Public Drinking Water Monitoring

• Monitors “Entry Points” to Public Water Supply Systems

• Large suite of potential drinking water contaminants

• Will be integrated into the 2004 Water Quality Inventory

State of Texas Water QualityInventory

N

Aquifers Inventoried in the 1998 Report -Majors: Cenezoic Pecos Alluvium, Edwards-Trinity, Ogallala. Minors: Capitan Reef, Ellenberger, Hickory, Marble Falls, Rita Blanca, Rustler

Aquifers Inventoried in the 2000 Report -Majors: Gulf Coast, Hueco-Messilla Bolsons, SeymourMinors: Blaine, Blossom, Bonespring- Victorio Peak, Lipan, Nacatoch, Woodbine

Aquifers Inventoried in the 2002 Report -Majors: Carrizo-Wilcox,Edwards - Balcones Fault Zone Trinity, Minors: Brazos, Dockum, Edwards-Trinity High Plains, Igneous Marathon, Queen City,Sparta,West Texas Bolsons,Yegua

Major Aquifer

Minor Aquifer

The Water Quality Inventory

• For the past three report cycles, has represented selected Ambient Groundwater Monitoring data in a graphic format using GIS software

State of Texas Water QualityInventory

N

Aquifers Inventoried in the 1998 Report -Majors: Cenezoic Pecos Alluvium, Edwards-Trinity, Ogallala. Minors: Capitan Reef, Ellenberger, Hickory, Marble Falls, Rita Blanca, Rustler

Aquifers Inventoried in the 2000 Report -Majors: Gulf Coast, Hueco-Messilla Bolsons, SeymourMinors: Blaine, Blossom, Bonespring- Victorio Peak, Lipan, Nacatoch, Woodbine

Aquifers Inventoried in the 2002 Report -Majors: Carrizo-Wilcox,Edwards - Balcones Fault Zone Trinity, Minors: Brazos, Dockum, Edwards-Trinity High Plains, Igneous Marathon, Queen City,Sparta,West Texas Bolsons,Yegua

Major Aquifer

Minor Aquifer

The Water Quality Inventory

• Nitrate was selected as the contaminant to be represented. Maps were constructed using the most recent data gathered for the major and minor aquifers

The Water Quality Inventory

The Water Quality Inventory

• For the 2004 edition of the report, other constituents of concern will be examined and represented graphically

The Water Quality Inventory

• For the 2004 edition of the report, other constituents of concern will be examined and represented graphically

The Water Quality Inventory

• For the 2004 edition of the report, other constituents of concern will be examined and represented graphically – including the “infrequent constituents”

The Water Quality Inventory

• This inventory, because of the relatively limited data that is available, cannot completely characterize the groundwater quality in the state

The Water Quality Inventory

• Additionally, the report does not seek to assign potential sources of contamination

The Water Quality Inventory

• Additionally, the report does not seek to assign potential sources of contamination

The Water Quality Inventory

• Additionally, the report does not seek to assign potential sources of contamination

The Water Quality Inventory

• Additionally, the report does not seek to assign potential sources of contamination

The Water Quality Inventory

• Additionally, the report does not seek to assign potential sources of contamination

The Water Quality Inventory

• As has been state in the report for several cycles, “The quality of groundwater in Texas is generally good” . . . which is not to say that we have no concerns.

The Water Quality Inventory

• Monitoring programs need to be maintained and enhanced to provide the best picture possible of groundwater quality.

There is Much Work to be Done