Texas Water

[boutons_deux]

While Austin Still Waters Its Lawns, Texas Considers Cutting Off Water To A Major Estuary (http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2013/10/02/2712421/texas-water-cutoff/)

The record-breaking drought that’s gripped Texas for the last five years has prompted the state’s public utility to call for a halt of freshwater flow to its second-largest estuary.

That decision could wreak havoc on the estuary’s ecosystem, and environmentalists in Texas are calling on the state’s cities to enact other water-saving rules first: in Austin, for instance, residents are still allowed to water their lawns, despite the drought.

On Sept. 26, the Lower Colorado River Authority filed an application (http://www.lcra.org/featurestory/2011/droughtreliefmeasures.html) to the state asking to be allowed to halt freshwater input into Matagorda Bay, an estuary on the Texas coast that provides important habitat for many species of birds, fish and mammals and is a nursery for for finfish, shrimp and crabs. Currently, the Authority is obligated (http://impactnews.com/austin-metro/lcra-agrees-to-cut-off-water-inflows-into-matagorda-bay/) by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to send a certain amount of water down the Colorado into the estuary each year, a setup known as “environmental flow” that’s aimed at ensuring the health of the estuary ecosystem.

Already, the Texas drought has meant the amount of freshwater flowing into the bay from the Highland Lakes is at historic lows (http://www.dailytrib.com/2013/09/19/lcra-wants-to-curtail-water-releases-for-environmental-health-to-matagorda-bay/#ixzz2gUsG6I00), which means the salinity level of the bay is dangerously high, threatening the marine creatures that live in the bay. When salt levels in the bay get too high, young shrimp, fish and oysters have a hard time surviving (http://www.eenews.net/stories/1059988021), which is bad news for the ecosystem and for the fishing industry (http://www.texastribune.org/2013/09/18/austins-lakes-dwindle-gulf-coast-may-also-suffer/) that depends on it.

“Our estuaries here in Texas have been gradually, slowly starved to death because the cities have been taking more and more water,” Buddy Treybig, a commercial fisherman in Matagorda County, told ClimateWire (http://www.eenews.net/stories/1059988021). “Over the last few years, we’re having to go further and further offshore to find shrimp, which means we’re already not producing. If they cut this off, then it’s completely done.”

While Matagorda Bay awaits its fate, cities like Austin still haven’t stepped up their water usage rules. Austin is under Stage 2 water restrictions, which means residents, businesses and schools can water their lawns during restricted days and times, despite the fact that it would take about 11 inches (http://www.kvue.com/news/Central-Texas-drought-conditions-No-change-this-week-224484901.html) of rain to officially end the drought in Austin.

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2013/10/02/2712421/texas-water-cutoff/

Anybody trust Repug governance to address TX medium/long-term water crises?

[boutons_deux]

Here's how southeast Australia, Victoria state, faced their water crisis

http://www.water.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0004/75892/Web-300px-Aerial-view-of-completed-buildings,-living-roof-and-revegetation2.JPG

http://www.water.vic.gov.au/initiatives/desalination

[boutons_deux]

Danny Forster has superb documentary on the Wonthaggi project in his "Build It Bigger" series

http://www.dannyforster.com/item/australias-victorian-desalination-project



here's another approach from FORWARD-thinking, water-stressed southern CA:

Sewage in O.C. goes full circle

Intensive cleaning will yield drinking water and a buffer against import cost hikes and shortages.

http://articles.latimes.com/2008/jan/02/local/me-reclaim2 (http://articles.latimes.com/2008/jan/02/local/me-reclaim2)


Maybe Gov. Wendy Davis will address TX's water crisis.

It will be hilarious when TX drills down to fossil water depths to find all the water has been poisoned with fracking chemicals. :lol

[EVAY]

"Pray for rain" is the official water policy for the state of Texas, isn't it?

[leemajors]

AFAIK you can only water your lawn one day a week in Austin, if the latest missive they sent out is still correct. Some people brazenly defy it.

[SnakeBoy]

Drought officially over in Texas
http://www.foxsanantonio.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/drought-officially-over-texas-12780.shtml#.VVN3ijfbL5o

Prayers answered. Thank you Jesus.

[boutons_deux]

AgriLife Research study: Salinization of groundwater resources in Texas is a growing concern

http://today.agrilife.org/2013/11/15/agrilife-research-study-salinization-of-groundwater-resources-in-texas-is-a-growing-concern/

[cantthinkofanything]

AgriLife Research study: Salinization of groundwater resources in Texas is a growing concern

http://today.agrilife.org/2013/11/15/agrilife-research-study-salinization-of-groundwater-resources-in-texas-is-a-growing-concern/

that's about 2 years old. I'm sure they've corrected whatever problem there was.

[boutons_deux]

that's about 2 years old. I'm sure they've corrected whatever problem there was.

:lol

yes, two years of drought have really stemmed the rise of brackish water! :lol

[Twisted_Dawg]

Drought officially over in Texas
http://www.foxsanantonio.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/drought-officially-over-texas-12780.shtml#.VVN3ijfbL5o

Prayers answered. Thank you Jesus.

The drought isn't over until the lakes, rivers and aquifers are back to normal levels.

[ChumpDumper]

Drought officially over in Texas
http://www.foxsanantonio.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/drought-officially-over-texas-12780.shtml#.VVN3ijfbL5o

Prayers answered. Thank you Jesus.Why did Jesus cause the drought in the first place?

[cantthinkofanything]

:lol

yes, two years of drought have really stemmed the rise of brackish water! :lol

:lol Is that what the article was about?
Oh well.

[cantthinkofanything]

Why did Jesus cause the drought in the first place?

to punish the fags who need water to wash down their AIDS cocktails.

[boutons_deux]

the heavier brackish,salty water rises when the lighter fresh rain water is insufficient to hold it down.

drought over? :lol

http://sawaterco.com/rainfall-data-san-antonio-dam

[cantthinkofanything]

the heavier brackish,salty water rises when the lighter fresh rain water is insufficient to hold it down.

drought over? :lol

http://sawaterco.com/rainfall-data-san-antonio-dam

That's just for one spot.

If I run outside right now (it's raining) with a cup in each hand, one will have a different reading than the other.

[SnakeBoy]

The drought isn't over until the lakes, rivers and aquifers are back to normal levels.

That's not how the drought index works.

[SnakeBoy]

Cali needs to start praying

http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/data/pngs/20150505/20150505_usdm_home.png

[CosmicCowboy]

the heavier brackish,salty water rises when the lighter fresh rain water is insufficient to hold it down.

drought over? :lol

http://sawaterco.com/rainfall-data-san-antonio-dam

Uhhh Boo. Why are you posting rainfall numbers from California? :lol

"San Antonio Water Company" is not in San Antonio...:lol

[CosmicCowboy]

BTW, there is so much fresh water in the bays right now that they are overflowing onto the land...Corpus Christi Bay is 2' over the runway at the Naval Air Station.

http://www.kristv.com/story/29046041/nas-corpus-christi-to-inspect-training-aircraft-following-flight-line-flooding

[SnakeBoy]

BTW, there is so much fresh water in the bays right now that they are overflowing onto the land...Corpus Christi Bay is 2' over the runway at the Naval Air Station.

http://www.kristv.com/story/29046041/nas-corpus-christi-to-inspect-training-aircraft-following-flight-line-flooding

Boo will probably use that as an example of sea level rise due to global warming.

[cantthinkofanything]

Cali needs to start praying

http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/data/pngs/20150505/20150505_usdm_home.png

http://coffeeclutterandchaos.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Gay-Marriage-map.jpg

[Spurminator]

Cali needs to start praying

It's a Miracle!

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-rain-thunderstorms-forecast-20150512-story.html

[TheSanityAnnex]

Cali needs to start praying

http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/data/pngs/20150505/20150505_usdm_home.png

Yeah we are majorly fucked right now. Although we got a half inch last weekend in San Diego and are supposed to get another inch in the next few days. The restrictions and fines they are applying to the residents is a joke, if we were to cut our water use by 50% it wouldn't make a dent. They need to go after the fucking almond/walnut farmers who are sucking up all of our water and then exporting to Asia. Seriously fuck them.

[SnakeBoy]

Yeah we are majorly fucked right now. Although we got a half inch last weekend in San Diego and are supposed to get another inch in the next few days. The restrictions and fines they are applying to the residents is a joke, if we were to cut our water use by 50% it wouldn't make a dent. They need to go after the fucking almond/walnut farmers who are sucking up all of our water and then exporting to Asia. Seriously fuck them.

They needed to start water restrictions years ago. If Cali's drought follows the Texas pattern you got years ahead of you with little relief. Cali is fucked if that happens.

[Twisted_Dawg]

BTW, there is so much fresh water in the bays right now that they are overflowing onto the land...Corpus Christi Bay is 2' over the runway at the Naval Air Station.

http://www.kristv.com/story/29046041/nas-corpus-christi-to-inspect-training-aircraft-following-flight-line-flooding

And the bay fishing sucks when the bays get filled with so much fresh water.

[TeyshaBlue]

Uhhh Boo. Why are you posting rainfall numbers from California? :lol

"San Antonio Water Company" is not in San Antonio...:lol

:lmao :lmao

[boutons_deux]

Tb :lol shows ONLY to pile on :lol

dickless coward

[TeyshaBlue]

I have about 15 minutes a day to fuck around on the internet these days thanks to my job.
Learn to read dickless loon.:lmao

[DarrinS]

Uhhh Boo. Why are you posting rainfall numbers from California? :lol

"San Antonio Water Company" is not in San Antonio...:lol

:lmao

[boutons_deux]

Medina Lake is 4.7% full as of 2015-05-14
http://www.waterdatafortexas.org/reservoirs/individual/medina

Where is Jesus when lakeside owner really need Him?

Travis and Buchanan lakes still 25 to 40 ft BELOW average. Jesus, where are You?

[CosmicCowboy]

:lmao at Boutons having to consult internet sources to see if it's raining.

[boutons_deux]

:lmao at Boutons having to consult internet sources to see if it's raining.

You Lie,

but looking outside for rain would be much more reliable than praying to Jesus for rain.

[TheSanityAnnex]

They needed to start water restrictions years ago. If Cali's drought follows the Texas pattern you got years ahead of you with little relief. Cali is fucked if that happens.

We are looking to have a very wet season next year, there's been a massive body of warm water off the coast of Mexico that will be bringing a lot of weather our way. Water has been so warm the Yellowtail fishing hasn't stopped, it's been unreal.

Watching the news right now and we are expecting up to 2" of rain in San Diego in the next 48 hrs.

[TheSanityAnnex]

Uhhh Boo. Why are you posting rainfall numbers from California? :lol

"San Antonio Water Company" is not in San Antonio...:lol

Holy shit :lol

[CosmicCowboy]

We are looking to have a very wet season next year, there's been a massive body of warm water off the coast of Mexico that will be bringing a lot of weather our way. Water has been so warm the Yellowtail fishing hasn't stopped, it's been unreal.

Watching the news right now and we are expecting up to 2" of rain in San Diego in the next 48 hrs.

You have your own boat?

[sickdsm]

Yeah we are majorly fucked right now. Although we got a half inch last weekend in San Diego and are supposed to get another inch in the next few days. The restrictions and fines they are applying to the residents is a joke, if we were to cut our water use by 50% it wouldn't make a dent. They need to go after the fucking almond/walnut farmers who are sucking up all of our water and then exporting to Asia. Seriously fuck them.

"our water"?

Lolz

Tell that to the residents in Colorado who are finally legally allowed to collect one barrel of rainwater off the roof.

[cantthinkofanything]

"our water"?

Lolz

Tell that to the residents in Colorado who are finally legally allowed to collect one barrel of rainwater off the roof.

for real?

[TheSanityAnnex]

"our water"?

Lolz

Tell that to the residents in Colorado who are finally legally allowed to collect one barrel of rainwater off the roof.
One Nation under God right? But yeah, pretty crazy.

[cantthinkofanything]

One Nation under God right? But yeah, pretty crazy.

It sounds like one of those games...

Ok, you can smoke all the pot you want BUT you only get one barrel of water

[TheSanityAnnex]

You have your own boat?

Even better, best friend has the boat. Just upgraded this last year too. Went from a 1987 24' center console to a 2002 34' with twin etec 300hps. I'm only out money for fuel, bait, booze and food.

We had an amazing year and next is shaping up to be much better. 4 marlin this year after being skunked the last five years.

[sickdsm]

I was wrong, they can now have two barrels of water where previously it was illegal to do so.

From my understanding it was only recently that wells were restricted in California.


When the understanding that it is not "your" water nor is it "their" water is reached, then compromises are made.

It is very ignorant to act otherwise, you clearly have not been on the other side of the river so to speak.

[TheSanityAnnex]

I was wrong, they can now have two barrels of water where previously it was illegal to do so.

From my understanding it was only recently that wells were restricted in California.


When the understanding that it is not "your" water nor is it "their" water is reached, then compromises are made.

It is very ignorant to act otherwise, you clearly have not been on the other side of the river so to speak.

Speaking of Colorado rivers I need to get my ass out to Parker if it's even boatable these days.

[CosmicCowboy]

Even better, best friend has the boat. Just upgraded this last year too. Went from a 1987 24' center console to a 2002 34' with twin etec 300hps. I'm only out money for fuel, bait, booze and food.

We had an amazing year and next is shaping up to be much better. 4 marlin this year after being skunked the last five years.

Sweet. I'm going out on a 36' Contender Monday.

[SnakeBoy]

Texas drought since Rick Perry prayed...

https://img.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/files/2015/05/texas-drought-before-and-after-2.png

[boutons_deux]

Texas communities embrace 'toilet-to-tap' water: Will California follow suit

Lessons learned in – until recently – drought parched Texas could help inspire a so-called toilet-to-tap water revolution in drought-ridden California.

The only places in the United States known to have implemented the practice of turning treated wastewater into drinking water without passing treated water through an environmental buffer are in the Lone Star State.

Big Spring and Wichita Falls, Texas, employ what is known as a direct, potable reuse (DPR) technology to supplement scarce water resources.

Wichita Falls connected its treated wastewater pipeline to the city’s water supplies last year. Big Spring, located in the dry environs of west Texas, beat its state compatriot in north Texas to the punch in 2013.

As the historic drought that has gripped the state of California for four years drags on, Golden State officials are grasping for innovative solutions and eyeing Texas's foray into toilet-to-tap water with keen interest.

Getting treated wastewater back into the water supply minus the environmental buffer could be a boon for the Golden State, says Richard Mills, chief of the water recycling and desalination section in the California Department of Water Resources.

“DPR is important because, in the long run, it is expected to allow greater use of treated wastewater at a reasonable cost to help meet our water demands,” he says. This comes, he continues, “in an era where freshwater supplies in many cases are near their limits of capacity.”

As Calfornia's drought situation has become increasingly dire, municipalities have already started to see shower, dishwashing, and toilet waters as a valuable resource. Orange County has been replenishing depleted groundwater reserves with treated household wastewater for several years. The direct potable reuse technique pioneered in Texas, however, offers a quicker and potentially more cost-effective process, Mr. Mills says.

Unlike indirect processing systems, which require multiple piping systems to pass the water through an environmental buffer such as gravel or a natural water body to further treat wastewater, direct potable reuse systems can utilize existing potable distribution systems, says Mills.

"While DPR is expected to cost more for water treatment and monitoring than other forms of wastewater reuse, there would be cost savings from eliminating the need for a separate pipeline distribution system to get the the treated water to customers, Mills says.

The California State Department of Public Health is currently conducting a study considering the feasibility of employing direct potable reuse in the state. That report is due by Dec. 31, 2016. Mills says the aim is to have a regulatory framework in place before allowing treated wastewater to be turned into drinking water across the state. If California is successful, the state could be a beacon for not only other water-starved states in the West but others around the country, Mills says.

In Texas, the $13-million system employed by Wichita Falls sends chlorine-treated wastewater from toilets, sinks, dishwashers, washing machines, and bathtubs directly to the plant where water is purified for drinking water. There, it is combined with lake water where it undergoes more disinfection, microfiltration, reverse osmosis, and ultraviolet light treatment.

The city rushed into action after officials realized they were two years away from running out of water. “The city experienced its worst single year drought in 2011, when we had 100 days over 100 degrees and precipitation that was 40 percent of normal,” says Daniel Nix, utilities operations manager for Wichita Falls Public Works department.

“That dropped our lake levels from 87 percent to 60 percent. At the beginning of 2012, when we calculated the worst-case projection of lake levels using a repeat of 2011 weather patterns, it was obvious we were going to be out of water by the summer of 2013. So we needed to do something quick.”

Since the system started operating, it has produced 2 billion gallons of treated water.

In Big Spring, there was a greater imperative. Locals were already relying on bottled water due to the low quality source water. That, combined with low rainfall and speedy evaporation, presented the city with a problem. Big Spring ended up with a system similar to that of Wichita Falls, recovering an estimated 2 million gallons per day.

Of course, cities have had to overcome public perception obstacles – with residents describing an ick factor. Initial reports saw some Wichita Falls residents balk at the thought of toilet water – despite its treatment – going into the drinking water supply.

"Everyone I know is buying bottled water," Ronna Prickett, co-owner of Polka-Dot Penguin gift shop told the Huffington Post last year. "People at the city have been telling us to have faith in the system but there is a stigma attached."

But people have generally come around, according to Nix and the local Wichita Times Record News. Residents say the water flowing from the tap tastes better, the Times Record News reported (http://www.timesrecordnews.com/news/lifeline/praise-questsions-pour-into-city-for-dpr). In August, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality in August awarded the city’s drinking supply its highest possible rating.

At the time it was launched, Gidget's Snack Shack owner Julia Spence told NPR, "You do have to give them the benefit of the doubt, because they have done their research, they've spent a whole lot of money, they've tested, tested, tested."

In general, Wichita Falls residents welcomed DPR as a necessary step in ensuring reliable water supplies, Mr. Nix says. “They knew we were running out of water and time.”
In the United States, less than 10 percent of wastewater is repurposed, according to WateReuse, an advocacy group based in Alexandria, Va. The advanced nature of treatment technologies has rendered "virtually any source" potentially usable, says Melissa Meeker, the group's executive director. “This means the concept of wastewater has become obsolete.”

http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2015/0615/Texas-communities-embrace-toilet-to-tap-water-Will-California-follow-suit

[Blake]

Texas drought since Rick Perry prayed...

https://img.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/files/2015/05/texas-drought-before-and-after-2.png

So you believe prayer works

[Blake]

Texas communities embrace 'toilet-to-tap' water: Will California follow suit

Lessons learned in – until recently – drought parched Texas could help inspire a so-called toilet-to-tap water revolution in drought-ridden California.

The only places in the United States known to have implemented the practice of turning treated wastewater into drinking water without passing treated water through an environmental buffer are in the Lone Star State.

Big Spring and Wichita Falls, Texas, employ what is known as a direct, potable reuse (DPR) technology to supplement scarce water resources.

Wichita Falls connected its treated wastewater pipeline to the city’s water supplies last year. Big Spring, located in the dry environs of west Texas, beat its state compatriot in north Texas to the punch in 2013.

As the historic drought that has gripped the state of California for four years drags on, Golden State officials are grasping for innovative solutions and eyeing Texas's foray into toilet-to-tap water with keen interest.

Getting treated wastewater back into the water supply minus the environmental buffer could be a boon for the Golden State, says Richard Mills, chief of the water recycling and desalination section in the California Department of Water Resources.

“DPR is important because, in the long run, it is expected to allow greater use of treated wastewater at a reasonable cost to help meet our water demands,” he says. This comes, he continues, “in an era where freshwater supplies in many cases are near their limits of capacity.”

As Calfornia's drought situation has become increasingly dire, municipalities have already started to see shower, dishwashing, and toilet waters as a valuable resource. Orange County has been replenishing depleted groundwater reserves with treated household wastewater for several years. The direct potable reuse technique pioneered in Texas, however, offers a quicker and potentially more cost-effective process, Mr. Mills says.

Unlike indirect processing systems, which require multiple piping systems to pass the water through an environmental buffer such as gravel or a natural water body to further treat wastewater, direct potable reuse systems can utilize existing potable distribution systems, says Mills.

"While DPR is expected to cost more for water treatment and monitoring than other forms of wastewater reuse, there would be cost savings from eliminating the need for a separate pipeline distribution system to get the the treated water to customers, Mills says.

The California State Department of Public Health is currently conducting a study considering the feasibility of employing direct potable reuse in the state. That report is due by Dec. 31, 2016. Mills says the aim is to have a regulatory framework in place before allowing treated wastewater to be turned into drinking water across the state. If California is successful, the state could be a beacon for not only other water-starved states in the West but others around the country, Mills says.

In Texas, the $13-million system employed by Wichita Falls sends chlorine-treated wastewater from toilets, sinks, dishwashers, washing machines, and bathtubs directly to the plant where water is purified for drinking water. There, it is combined with lake water where it undergoes more disinfection, microfiltration, reverse osmosis, and ultraviolet light treatment.

The city rushed into action after officials realized they were two years away from running out of water. “The city experienced its worst single year drought in 2011, when we had 100 days over 100 degrees and precipitation that was 40 percent of normal,” says Daniel Nix, utilities operations manager for Wichita Falls Public Works department.

“That dropped our lake levels from 87 percent to 60 percent. At the beginning of 2012, when we calculated the worst-case projection of lake levels using a repeat of 2011 weather patterns, it was obvious we were going to be out of water by the summer of 2013. So we needed to do something quick.”

Since the system started operating, it has produced 2 billion gallons of treated water.

In Big Spring, there was a greater imperative. Locals were already relying on bottled water due to the low quality source water. That, combined with low rainfall and speedy evaporation, presented the city with a problem. Big Spring ended up with a system similar to that of Wichita Falls, recovering an estimated 2 million gallons per day.

Of course, cities have had to overcome public perception obstacles – with residents describing an ick factor. Initial reports saw some Wichita Falls residents balk at the thought of toilet water – despite its treatment – going into the drinking water supply.

"Everyone I know is buying bottled water," Ronna Prickett, co-owner of Polka-Dot Penguin gift shop told the Huffington Post last year. "People at the city have been telling us to have faith in the system but there is a stigma attached."

But people have generally come around, according to Nix and the local Wichita Times Record News. Residents say the water flowing from the tap tastes better, the Times Record News reported (http://www.timesrecordnews.com/news/lifeline/praise-questsions-pour-into-city-for-dpr). In August, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality in August awarded the city’s drinking supply its highest possible rating.

At the time it was launched, Gidget's Snack Shack owner Julia Spence told NPR, "You do have to give them the benefit of the doubt, because they have done their research, they've spent a whole lot of money, they've tested, tested, tested."

In general, Wichita Falls residents welcomed DPR as a necessary step in ensuring reliable water supplies, Mr. Nix says. “They knew we were running out of water and time.”
In the United States, less than 10 percent of wastewater is repurposed, according to WateReuse, an advocacy group based in Alexandria, Va. The advanced nature of treatment technologies has rendered "virtually any source" potentially usable, says Melissa Meeker, the group's executive director. “This means the concept of wastewater has become obsolete.”

http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2015/0615/Texas-communities-embrace-toilet-to-tap-water-Will-California-follow-suit




Mmmmmmm toilet water

Praise God

[boutons_deux]

Mmmmmmm toilet water

Praise God

the treated sewage water Orange County puts back into the aquifer is purer than what the water that comes out of the aquifer.

[Blake]

Oh yeah, I know. It's just processing the idea.

Hell, I bet it comes out of the tap purer than a lot of bottled water