Water Issues

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.

Scientific Studies

December 9, 2015

Medina Lake OSSF updated study by URS

In 2004 URS carried out a study for the Bexar Medina Atascosa Water District (BMA) in order to identify properties which were likely to have on-site sewage facilities (OSSFs). These properties, if built after 1997 would be required to comply with regulation governing the construction and maintenance of OSSFs in Texas. The study was commissioned following a rise in fecal coliform levels in Medina Lake and concern from BMA that OSSFs were a potential source of contamination of the lake.

Water Issues

August 25, 2022

TCEQ – July 12, 2022 Investigation Report

Click the link below to view the July 12, 2022 Investigation Report done by the TCEQ.   TCEQ Investigation Report July 2022
March 19, 2021

PUBLIC NOTICE – Harmful invasive species found at Medina Lake

https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2021/03/16/harmful-invasive-species-found-at-medina-lake-lake-placid-now-fully-infested-with-zebra-mussels/?fbclid=IwAR2zcrY-vwgkyGfaOekoLAr8KvYB-rLr2B1Wb0r2N_tM39V1jOTmHbn0xDI
January 28, 2016

Septic Systems Contaminate Drinking Water Wells on Cape Cod

THURSDAY, 28 JANUARY 2016 16:44 Pharmaceuticals, flame retardants, and other organic compounds found in small concentrations in household drinking water. Photo courtesy of Landsat With sandy soils and clusters of […]
December 21, 2015

America’s Septic System Failures Can Be Fixed

MONDAY, 21 DECEMBER 2015 05:30 Solutions require new thinking about wastewater treatment By Brett Walton Circle of Blue America’s septic systems are failing to protect human health and ecosystems from […]
December 17, 2015

Hookworm Infections and Sanitation Failures Plague Rural Alabama

THURSDAY, 17 DECEMBER 2015 06:00 New civil rights movement emerges around septic system pollution By Brett Walton Circle of Blue A measure of desperation and disease, parasitic infections caused by […]
November 25, 2015

Septic System Pollution Contributes to Disease Outbreaks

WEDNESDAY, 25 NOVEMBER 2015 13:18 More research and funding is needed to help understand the severity By Brett Walton Circle of Blue Drip by drip, septic systems, both faulty units […]