Texas State Health Plan: 1987-1988 Page: 44
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laws governing hazardous and industrial waste. TDH
oversees the disposal of municipal solid waste and
the quality of drinking water. The Texas Railroad
Commission controls oil and gas operations. The
Texas Water Development Board approves requests
for loans of State of Texas monies for certain water
development projects. Additionally, numerous
underground water districts have some control over
actions which could affect the subsurface water
within their jurisdictions.
Alternative 2: Provide stronger regulation of the
design, construction, and operation of landfill sites.
Unplanned and poorly constructed landfills can
create a danger to health, especially when located
near a shallow groundwater site. Local landfills often
contain small quantity wastes ranging from photo
chemicals to paint thinner, pesticides and used
motor oil. In rural areas, the possibility of a casually
prepared waste site placed above a local water
supply is aconcern.
Alternative 3: Promote more vigorous water
conservation strategies, especially for agricultural
irrigation methods and equipment as well as for
coastal areas where overpumping has caused
saltwater intrusion and ground subsidence.
New techniques and government loans for the
purchase of modern irrigation equipment encourage
conservative agricultural watering.
Alternative 4: Initiate more extensive and
comprehensive groundwater monitoring programs,
including a survey of the extent of groundwater
contamination.
Several government agencies monitor groundwater
at random to check for contamination; however,
different agencies have different requirements and
the information is seldom shared.
Alternative 5: Prohibit landfill disposal sites over
sensitive aquifers, i.e., the Edwards Aquifer and its
recharge zone.
Even landfill sites which are properly designed and
constructed will eventually allow leachate to escape.
Since there is very little natural soil filtering above the
Edwards Aquifer, contamination is inevitable. Such
sensitive areas must be ruled unsuitable for any
landfill disposal sites.
Alternative 6: Encourage alternative disposal
methods for hazardous waste, e.g., resource
recovery, reduction, or detoxification througheconomic incentives such as taxes or fee
scheduling.
This alternative already has been written into law.
During the 69th Texas Legislature, House Bill 2359
was passed, providing a means to improve disposal
methods through a waste end tax.
Alternative 7: Approve additional underground
water districts with the authority to restrict and control
the factors which contaminate groundwater.
Such methods are usually viewed critically in Texas
where landownership also conveys surface and
subsurface water rights.
Alternative 8: Limit building density to control the
levels of storm water runoff and septic tank drainage,
especially oversensitive aquifers.
High density construction over sensitive aquifers
may eventually be the greatest danger. The Texas
Hill Country is an attractive living area, and new
housing is being added continually. Construction of
homes and commercial malls increases the
impervious cover and the amount of chemicals,
herbicides, oil, tar, etc. which is flushed away during
a rainstorm. Because of the high impervious cover,
much of these wastes run off rapidly and soak quickly
through the thin soil layer and eventually through the
rock fissures into the aquifer.
Because of the rock which closely underlies the
surface, sewage pipe placement and construction
are expensive over the Balcones Fault/Edwards
Aquifer. Only by very costly construction techniques
can there be any assurance that these pipes will not
crack or separate, leaking raw sewage into the
aquifer.
Septic tanks are a logical alternative; however, the
underlying rock also prevents proper filtration of the
effluent. Used sparingly, septic tanks are acceptable;
however, extensive usage can cause groundwater
pollution.
ALTERNATIVES SELECTED
Each of the alternatives is needed and they are
complementary. Selected for special emphasis are
Alternatives 1, 4, 7 and 8.
Recommendations:
1. That the Texas Water Commission be the
responsible lead agency in coordinating and
planning for groundwater protection.1987-88 TEXAS STATE HEALTH PLAN
44
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Texas. Statewide Health Coordinating Council. Texas State Health Plan: 1987-1988, report, 1986; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1586615/m1/56/?rotate=270: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.