Mapping & Analysis of Wastewater
Spills in the Barton Springs and
Southern Segments of the Edwards
Aquifer
{
Project Manager: Katie Tritsch
GIS Analyst: Kevin Taylor
Web Design/GIS Analyst: Eric Schroeder
GIS Analyst: Katie Steele
Presented for: Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance
Background
Work Completed
Current Work
Future Work
Conclusion

Progress Report Overview

Map and analyze wastewater spills that have occurred
in Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
(TCEQ) Region 11 within the last five years.

Geovisualization of this data to enhance GEAA’s
understanding of:



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
Distribution
Gallon amount
Frequency
Causes of wastewater spills
Interactive Mapping:


Enhance public’s understanding and concern
Potential health affects due to polluting groundwater reserves
Background: Purpose

Edwards Aquifer
 Recharge and Contributing zones
 Barton Springs & Southern segments
Priority counties: Travis and Hays
 Next county: Williamson

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Spills are 500 gallons or more
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Occurrence over the past five years

2007-2012
Background: Scope

TCEQ wastewater spill data
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1,800 spill records total
Sorted by county and date
New Data Tables

Separate table for Hays County and Travis County


New columns: full street address, city, zip code, cause of spill, and
action taken to remedy the spill
537 records total were processed


Some left out due to non-specific or nonexistent locations
Hays (93) and Travis (344), totaling in 437 spill records mapped.
Work Completed:
Data Acquisition & Processing

Original hypothesis is incorrect
Certain MUDs do not contain more spills
 Stronger correlation between spills and
population.

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Also, not many spills on the recharge or
contributing zone of the aquifer.

Combining our analyses to give a general
assessment of the impact of population growth and
development on wastewater spills.
Work Completed:
Data analysis & interpretation
Work Completed:
Final Deliverables

Completed: Hays and Travis counties

Next: Williamson County
Due to client’s interest and analysis challenges
 Should only take a couple days

Current Work:
Data Acquisition & Processing

Williamson County spills map

Sequential maps for Travis County

Categorical Map

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Map of spills based on spill causes
Developing ideas for vulnerability analysis

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Kernel density, weighted by spill volume
Population density map
Combined qualitative analysis for Final Report
Current Work:
Data analysis & interpretation

Currently cleaning up spill data attribute
tables in ArcMap

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When displayed in the interactive map
software, the location, duration, volume, and
causes will be easier to read.
Interactive Mapping Options:
Manifold
 Google Earth
 Potentially Open Source software

Current Work: Interactive mapping

Adobe Dreamweaver

We are in exploratory phase due to little
experience

Watching tutorials to help us navigate
the Dreamweaver software
Current Work: Website publication

Geocoding Williamson County within
the next week

Promptly move on to following portions
of the project
Future Work:
Data acquisition & processing

Executing point pattern analysis (Kernel) and population
density calculations

Creating static maps – Categorical by cause, Kernel density,
population density, Williamson spills

Writing out our analysis

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Improving the understanding of the context
Errors/limitations
Shortcomings and challenges
Opportunities for further research
Future Work:
Data analysis & interpretation

Deciding which software to use within the
next couple weeks

Formatting data to be more user-friendly
and inputting it into chosen software

Embedding interactive map onto website
Future Work: Interactive mapping

Continuing to work on website
publication until Week 10

Slow yet steady progression with
Dreamweaver

Anticipating a well-designed final
product
Future Work: Website publication

Integrating data into interactive map

Perfecting static maps
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Wrapping up website publication
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Putting together final report

Designing and printing a professional poster

Creating a CD of all documents, data, and metadata for
GEAA’s future use
Future Work: Final Deliverables
Schedule Revisions…
ARI Revised Timetable
Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9 Week 10*
Start date
Data Acquisition &
Processing
Data Analysis &
Interpretation
Interactive Mapping
Website Publication
Final Deliverables
Oct. 1
Oct. 8
Oct. 15 Oct. 22 Oct. 29
Dec. 3 - Dec.
Nov. 5 Nov. 12 Nov. 19 Nov. 26
10

Overall project is moving along well despite unsuspected challenges

Looking forward to getting a fuller picture of the recharge and
contributing zones of the aquifer with the addition of Williamson
County

Continued effort in finding correlation between wastewater spills and
an external factor (population growth, development)

Final Deliverables will be ready on time

Confident of our success at increasing understanding of the context of
spills in the Barton Springs and Southern segments of the Edwards
Aquifer.
Conclusion
Questions?