Editor:
There are indications that Texas may be entering a severe, prolonged drought pattern similar to the 1950s drought. This was one of the most severe natural disasters in our state history, lasting seven years and scarring the memories of residents who lived through it.
Once thriving rural communities became ghost towns as the agricultural industry disappeared. Numerous springs and rivers went completely dry, including the Guadalupe. Many residents still describe it as one of the most frightening times they have experienced.
Locally, our spring-fed Cibolo Creek is barely flowing. The hottest months of summer are ahead. What will this look like in August?
Stage 3 drought restrictions have been declared for the Cow Creek Groundwater Conservation District and the Edwards Aquifer Authority as groundwater levels decline. At the same time, SAWS customers in San Antonio remain under Stage 2 restrictions that permit sprinkler irrigation systems to run once per week for up to four hours. This has been declared an accomplishment by SAWS management, a result of diversified water sources including the Edwards, Trinity and Carrizo aquifers combined with the Vista Ridge pipeline. The Trinity aquifer supplies our region, including the Cow Creek Groundwater District.
In my opinion, this is not an accomplishment that SAWS should be proud of. It is an absolute waste of a limited resource, including part of our regional groundwater supply from the Trinity. Lawn irrigation systems can use 12 gallons per minute or more. Over a four-hour cycle this consumes over 2,800 gallons of water for a single yard.
Across a city with over 2 million people, this amounts to a massive amount of water wasted daily to keep grass green. Enforcing these watering restrictions is very difficult with very few SAWS staff available for this purpose.
In a worsening drought, it ultimately does not matter exactly where the water comes from, whether it is piped in, renamed, traded, mixed, etc. If groundwater users who depend on the Trinity Aquifer are in Stage 3 restrictions, how can SAWS justify even one drop of this same water for extra lawn irrigation in San Antonio?
It is time to quit sending mixed messages and get very serious about a growing water crisis.
–Alexandria Rudd,Boerne
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