Preparing For Drought
Alexander Hinz
Daniel Rice
Dorothy Young
________________
Water Supply Division
Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality
2015 TCEQ Trade Fair
Drought Monitor Map
Surface Water Intake
Drought Contingency Plans
• Required for wholesale and retail water
providers
• Review goals, triggers and number of stages
• Evaluate effectiveness of plan
implementation relative to goals
• Contact TCEQ for guidance documents
related to development or revision of plans
Address Water Loss
• Do you know your current water loss?
• Look for and repair leaks
• Replace meters
• Contact the Texas Water Development Board
for assistance with water loss equipment
Sources of Water
• Does your system have access to an
alternate source of water?
• Do you need an interconnection with an
adjacent public water system?
• If you use surface water should you also
consider groundwater sources (wells)?
• Can you extend intake for surface water or
lower pump for groundwater?
Surface Water Intake
Source Water Evaluation
• Do you know the level of water above your
surface water intake? Water Data for Texas
• Do you have a surface water right or do you
purchase contract water?
• Do you measure your water levels in your
well(s)?
Water Availability
• Track water levels regularly
o Surface water above or below intake
o Groundwater above pump or below surface
• Identify trends
o Drought versus ‘normal’
• Nearby stream or lake level gages
o Identify long-term or seasonal trends
• Equipment to measure
o Borrow from nearby systems, river authority,
groundwater conservation districts, etc.
Water Shortage Reporting
• Retail and wholesale water providers must
notify TCEQ if they are reasonable certain
they have less than a 180-day supply of
water remaining
• TCEQ has developed an online form to
report water use restrictions and available
supply of water remaining
• DroughtReport.org
Surface Water Intake
Emergency Management
• Be familiar with you local emergency
manager
• Do you have an emergency plan if a water
shortage is imminent
• Texas Division of Emergency Management
Texas Department of Emergency
Management
Common Drought Related Projects
• Interconnection with an adjacent public water
system
• Extending surface water intakes to deeper
water
• Drilling groundwater wells
• Purchasing additional surface water from a
water right holder
Approval of Water Related Projects
• TCEQ approves most water related projects
• Must submit plans and specifications
prepared by a licensed profession engineer
(must be licensed in Texas)
• Allow time for TCEQ review and approval
•
http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/utilities/planrev.html
Funding Sources - Water Rates
• Review your system’s water rates
• Do you have funds available for
emergency projects?
Funding Agencies
• Texas Water Infrastructure Coordination
Committee
o www.twicc.org
• Texas Water Development Board
• Texas Department of Agriculture
• US Department of Agriculture
Partnerships
• Strength in numbers
• Interconnects
• Shared funding
• Shared sources
TWICC Meeting
For More Assistance
• TCEQ Assistance
o Financial
Managerial
Technical Assistance Contract
o Stacy Foster 512-239-3105
o Assistance with planning, leak detection,
funding sources, mergers, treatment, etc.
o TCEQ Public Drinking Water Conference
 August 11 - 12, 2015
Questions?
Alexander Hinz 512-239-4720
Daniel Rice 512-239-4682
Dorothy Young 512-239-6064