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Do You Know Which Aquifer Supplies Your Water?

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Do You Know Which Aquifer Supplies Your Water?

hen talking about the Regional Carrizo Program, there may be some confusion about which strata or layer of the aquifer residents use to get their water. This is an important aspect to understand when learning about the program.  Here are some facts to help.

• There are two minor aquifers in Gonzales County – Sparta and Queen City – and two major aquifers – Carrizo and Wilcox.
  
  
• Because the Carrizo and Wilcox aquifers are located between 700 feet and 2,300 feet below the surface, it can be costly to access this water.
  
  
• Chances are most residents with private wells get their water from either the Sparta or Queen City aquifers. If your well is between 80 feet and 400 feet, your well is probably in the Sparta or Queen City aquifers.
  
  
• Clay buffer layers or strata are found between the aquifers, so there is almost no interaction or overlap between aquifers.
  
  
• The majority of agricultural wells are in the Queen City aquifer.

SAWS Pumping and the Carrizo Aquifer

• Pumping will not hurt the Carrizo Aquifer.
  
  
• SAWS conducted a seven-day pump test in the Carrizo Aquifer, and the upper aquifers (Sparta and Queen City) showed no negative effects in pressure or water level.
  
  
• SAWS has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in scientific studies to determine if there is enough water to accommodate the needs of present and future users, as well as the amount that SAWS is targeting to lease from area landowners.