The Edwards Aquifer Authority issued State 1 Critical Period Management permit predictions for counties within the San Antonio Pool, which includes Hays County.
State 1 Critical Period Management Plan for the San Antonio Pool requires Edwards groundwater permit holders in Atascosa, Bexar, Caldwell, Comal, Guadalupe, Hays and Medina counties to reduce their annual authorized pumping by 20%, according to EAA.
Permit reductions went into effect Wednesday after EAA officials confirmed that the 10-day average at the index well J-17 index well fell below 660 to 659.8 feet above mean sea level. EAA stated that the reductions apply to all Edwards Aquifer groundwater permit holders authorized to pump more than three acrefeet annually, including industrial and agricultural uses and water utilities authorized to pump water from the aquifer to customers.
