Water Quality

1
Water Quality
Whats Wrong? By Meghan Wolff Jefferson High
School
2

The Quality Issue
The Edwards Aquifer is a source of superior
drinking water for many parts of Texas. The San
Antonio Water System (SAWS) has been rated a
superior water system since 1936. However,
growing populations, development, air force
bases, gas stations, and people, anyone, are
putting our water in jeopardy. These are only a
few of the difficulties dealt with when it comes
to contamination of our water.
3

Thousand Oaks Drive

• Approximately 11,200 gallons of gasoline leaked
  from the the storage tank of a gas station
  located over the aquifer.
• The tank had tested sound, but had then settled
  on a rock in the bedding material, causing a
  leak.
• It was found that a plume of contamination had
  formed in the rock overlying the aquifer.
• The migration pathway in this rock would have
  taken the gasoline into domestic wells nearby,
  and not the aquifer itself, although it was a
  close call.

Incidence at
4

The Edwards Area
WhiteCatchment Area, BlueRecharge Zone, Yellow
Artesian
5

Kelly AFB- Those Not Using the Edwards

• Residents nearby saw contaminated waste dumped
  into an uncovered pit by the base fence line.
• When it rained, the waste would wash from the pit
  into the neighborhoods.
• It contaminated an aquifer below 20,000 homes,
  used by these neighborhoods.
• Can still be harmful to those living above
  through vapors rising and recreational use.

6
Brooks AFB Domestic
Well Trouble

• Samples from SW of the base showed contamination
  from VOCs
• Associated with a Fire Protection Training Area.
• Contamination not considered a hazard- the wells
  had been out of use since 1959.
• Testing done, treatment program in place.

7
Non-Point Source Pollution

• Overuse of chemicals such as bug spray and
  fertilizer can run off and into the aquifer,
  harmful to the water and us.
• Septic tanks may leak harmful bacteria such as E.
  coli. This is also a problem with animal feces.
• Any pollutants contributed by the general
  population, such as car exhaust, which cannot be
  traced to any particular source.

8

No Dumping
Stenciled on over 400 storm drains to increase
public awareness.
9
Expansion

• As people move outward, so do their homes,
  stores, gas stations, and everything else they
  require.
• The size of San Antonio has already increased
  much in the past 50 years.

• Our population is expected to double by 2030.

• Will we be forced to move onto the recharge zone,
  bringing our pollutants with us?

10

Present Day San Antonio
11

Problems Encountered

• What we can encounter
• Non-point source pollution- not traceable to any
  one point. Our everyday life greatly contributes.
• Point-source pollution- air force bases,
  hazardous waste, gas stations.
• .

• Our developing population, which will continue to
  expand

12

What Chlorine Can and Cannot do

• What it Can
• Kill some harmful bacteria, such as E. coli.
• Kill bacteria possibly encountered in transport
  pipes.
• Disinfect
• Clean swimming pools

• What it Cannot
• Rid water of gasoline.
• Pick up litter.
• Block storm drains
• Rid water of fertilizer and other chemical
  runoff.
• Slow development.

13
What is Being Done

• Double lined gas station storage tanks.
• Building restriction laws for aquifer recharge
  zones.

• Clean up of hazardous waste sites.
• Education on water contamination and its
  effects.

14

What We Can Do

• Dont over use chemicals harmful to our water.
• Clean up after any pets.
• Try using more organic methods such as mulching
  or compost.
• Be careful with what goes into storm drains.

• Dont litter, you dont know where it might end
  up.
• Make sure there are no leaks in your plumbing.

15
Our water is a valuable resource which must be
protected..
While we can look to our government in some ways,
we too must help.
In Conclusion
As it is, our water needs our help to stay clean,
and we need to watch out for it.