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TITLE 30ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
PART 1TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
CHAPTER 230GROUNDWATER AVAILABILITY CERTIFICATION FOR PLATTING
RULE §230.10Determination of Groundwater Availability

(a) Time frame for determination of groundwater availability. At a minimum, both a short- and long-term determination of groundwater availability shall be made, each considering the estimated total water demand at full build out of the proposed subdivision. Groundwater availability shall be determined for ten years and 30 years and for any other time frame(s) required by the municipal or county authority.

(b) Other considerations in groundwater availability determination. Groundwater availability determinations shall take into account the anticipated method of water delivery as identified under §230.5 of this title (relating to Proposed Subdivision Information) and will be compared to annual demand estimates at full build out as determined under §230.6 of this title (relating to Projected Water Demand Estimate).

(c) Determination of aquifer parameters. The parameters of the aquifer(s) being considered to supply water to the proposed subdivision shall be determined utilizing the information considered under §230.7 of this title (relating to General Groundwater Resource Information) and data obtained during the aquifer test required under §230.8 of this title (relating to Obtaining Site-Specific Groundwater Data) for individual water wells or under Chapter 290, Subchapter D of this title (relating to Rules and Regulations for Public Water Systems) and reported as specified in §230.3(c) of this title (relating to Certification of Groundwater Availability for Platting). The time-drawdown and time-recovery data obtained during the aquifer test shall be used to determine aquifer parameters utilizing the nonequilibrium equations developed by Theis or Cooper-Jacob, or acceptable modifications thereof. The following aquifer parameters shall be determined:

  (1) rate of yield and drawdown;

  (2) specific capacity;

  (3) efficiency of the pumped (test) well;

  (4) transmissivity;

  (5) coefficient of storage;

  (6) hydraulic conductivity;

  (7) recharge or barrier boundaries, if any are present; and

  (8) thickness of the aquifer(s).

(d) Determination of groundwater availability. Using the information and data identified and determined in subsections (b) and (c) of this section, the following calculations shall be made.

  (1) Time-drawdown. The amount of drawdown at the pumped well(s) and at the boundaries of the proposed subdivision shall be determined for the time frames identified under subsection (a) of this section.

  (2) Distance-drawdown. The distance(s) from the pumped well(s) to the outer edges of the cone(s)-of-depression shall be determined for the time frames identified under subsection (a) of this section.

  (3) Well interference. For multiple wells in a proposed subdivision, calculations shall be made to:

    (A) determine how pumpage from multiple wells will affect drawdown in individual wells for the time frames identified under subsection (a) of this section; and

    (B) determine a recommended minimum spacing limit between individual wells and well yields from the wells that will allow for the continued use of the wells for the time frames identified under subsection (a) of this section.

(e) Determination of groundwater quality. The water quality analysis required under §230.9 of this title (relating to Determination of Groundwater Quality) shall be compared to primary and secondary public drinking water standards and the findings documented as specified in §230.3(c) of this title.

(f) Submission of information. The information, data, and calculations required by this section shall be made available to the municipal or county authority, if required, to document the requirements of this section as part of the plat application.


Source Note: The provisions of this §230.10 adopted to be effective July 9, 2000, 25 TexReg 6345

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