We Are Water Conscious
The quality of the Lake system water is important to the landowners of the BMA that utilize 46,000+ acre feet of Irrigation on 33,000 acres for the economic needs of their livelihood and the economic needs of the region’s businesses and cities.
A 2004 USGS Budget analysis estimated the Lake system created a yearly recharge of 36,996 acre into the Edwards Aquifer. In addition SAWS has a contract with BMA for 19,974 acre feet for Municipal use. An average household will use an estimated 117,000 gallons in a year. The 56,970 acre feet either going into the aquifer or taken by SAWS could potentially affect the needs of 158, 664 households or 396,660 people (2.5 per household) if water in lake system were to be polluted.
A polluted Lake System would not serve residential or recreation interests in the area.
We have posted below a series of articles by Circle of Blue, followed by an updated OSSF study of the Medina Lake. Of note in this updated study are the increasing number of septics systems and the increase of septics systems in the 100 year flood plain.
What is troubling is the continued growth in the Medina Lake area without the infrastructure of a public sewer system. Continuing to place septic systems in the 100 year flood plain, on shallow soils, within 475 feet of the normal conservation pool and over household wells does not seem to be in the best future interest of any party.
