making new ASR regs
Yesterday I got to see how cross-entity regulation is formulated. I sat in on a call with a local Groundwater Conservation District (GCD), technical groundwater consultant smart-dudes (my company's engineer and our subconsultant's geologist), and a Texas city's rep. It was pretty cool to see how ideas get bounced back and forth and how the entities work together to create rules which protect the environment, human health, and stakeholder interests.
Aquifer Storage and Recovery
SAWS, one of those 3, is super proud of their system (and rightly so!). Here's a fantastically corny 90 second video.SAWS Aquifer Storage & Recovery Explained in 90 Seconds from San Antonio Water System on Vimeo.
Under a new law passed this year in Texas, HB 655, the TCEQ regulates injection for ASR wells but local Groundwater Conservation Districts (GCD) have authority over recovery of water from ASR. Because the law is so new (it changes old laws which were not conducive to ASR), the districts have yet to formulate their new rules.
Because we're actively working on projects in Texas with this ASR technology, we get to work directly with the GCD to develop the new rules. It benefits everyone. The GCD wants to pass laws which are applicable and universal to all conditions. We want to design this new technology and learn more about ASR in Texas. Our client gets to save and distribute water effectively to the public.
Working together is fun!
Listening: Mr. Harry Potter podcast about adaptations of the books to the movies. It's interesting to hear someone discuss what you lose by the different forms of media and how they are altered for the different formats.
Working: Looking at water service taps in the downtown portion of San Antonio where we are doing construction. Some of the waterlines have tap numbers down in the 300s. As in (I think), they were the 300th house to get public service from a city water main. Vintage!
Reading:Two books available for pickup at the library! Stay tuned!