- Uplands Open House Sunday the 20th
- Stop The Clot Race - Sunday May 20th
- Backyard, good news - bad news?
- Madam Mam's and others to open at HCG
- LTISD leadership changes
- Hill Country Indoor Update
- Deputy Head of City admin leaves - prompts "re-org"
- Police pay raise approved by Council
- Whole Foods Preview
- Sales Tax increases slowing
- Butterbellies - infant massage
- Spicewood Buzzard Bump - May 19th
- Cavs Golfers take State
- New Fire Station Grand Opening - May 19th
- Controversial sewage plant to go ahead after Council OK
- Mizu to close?
- Bee Cave Library Update
- LT Library May Calendar
- Whole Foods benefits Library
- Nitro swim center in second Hwy 71 crash
Travis County Unanimously Adopts Groundwater Regulations
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This week, according to a Press Release,"Travis County Commissioners unanimously approved a new set of amendments to Travis County’s subdivision regulations that will provide for a more reliable and cleaner supply of ground and surface water for the future. The County follows in the footsteps of seven other Central Texas counties who have proposed similar steps in the face of dwindling resources and legislative inaction.
The new rules will cover new subdivision applications that are outside the City of Austin’s Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction. The rules require all new subdivisions to have a water supply plan demonstrating an adequate long-term source of water for homeowners in the subdivision, including a drought contingency plan. The rules also require all new subdivisions to have sufficient water storage, distribution lines, and hydrants to fight fires.
For new subdivisions that are supplied by groundwater, the new rules establish water quality standards and ensure better information is collected about how groundwater is being used. This information includes a survey of existing wells in and around the proposed subdivision, a search of existing records of groundwater use around the subdivision, and monitoring of the wells supplying the subdivision. Information from the monitoring will be compiled and analyzed by the County to keep tabs on the level of water in the aquifers. The rules also restrict the use of groundwater for decorative ponds and other aesthetic water features.
The rules include an exemption for subdivisions having five or fewer lots. They go into effect immediately, and end the suspension of plats using groundwater from the Trinity group of aquifers in Western Travis County.
“These new rules will go a long way in ensuring that residents in new developments have long-term access to the most basic of human needs - water. Travis County has waited decades for better groundwater management, and I am most appreciative of the challenging and historic work done by the stakeholder committee and Travis County staff in writing these rules,” said Commissioner Huber."
