Three Bills Filed to Ensure Clean Water Recharges the Edwards Aquifer
Senator José Menéndez, Representative Donna Howard, and Representative Tracy O. King have filed bills that many believe are needed to protect the quality of water in the Edwards Aquifer. S.B. 1796 (Menéndez) / H.B. 3467 (Howard) state “The commission (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality -TCEQ) may not issue a new permit authorizing the discharge of sewage effluent directly into any water in the contributing or recharge zone of the San Antonio or Barton Springs segment of the Edwards Aquifer.” H.B. 3036 (King) expands the geographic area impacted by this legislation to include the regulated Edwards Aquifer Contributing Zone. "Protecting the pristine streams in the Edwards Aquifer Contributing Zone for all landowners (users) is of the upmost importance and I am proud to author House Bill 3036," said Representative Tracy King. Ranchers, landowners, civic and conservation groups from throughout the Texas Hill Country are joining forces to support this legislation to prohibit the practice of releasing treated sewage effluent into waterways that recharge the Edwards Aquifer. Similar bills have been filed in past legislative sessions, including H.B. 595 (2009) by Representative David Leibowitz, S.B. 1099 (2009) and S.B. 853 (2011) filed by Senator Kirk Watson, and H.B. 3039 (2007) filed by Representative…