Internet Beat

Gloria R. Rivera

Water Information: Schertz Seguin Water Supply Project, Regional Water Plan, and links to Water News

Sometime in the near future, “precious” water will be available in Seguin from the prime location generally referred to as “the sweet spot” of the Carrizo Aquifer.

Not long ago, with a group of councilmen and other officials from Seguin and Schertz, I excitedly tasted the water coming from one of the wells in the project. The water is safe to drink without treatment. With the group, I also toured and admired the treatment plant. The congeniality and the spirit of cooperation that exists between people from Seguin and people from Schertz are remarkable.

It seemed impossible to believe that a dream is actually coming true. The economic future and economic viability of the cities of Schertz and Seguin are strengthened. There will be drought protection.

For many years, many people in Seguin had this aspiration of drought protection and alternate water supply for Seguin. I am grateful for the approaching completion of the project.

The bridge situation seems to be a nightmare. I guess it is unreasonable to hope that from time to time, nightmares will not spoil dreams. I hope the problem is resolved.

Since this is a personal article and not an official SSLGC Board article, I would like to express some thoughts about the pipeline crossing the Guadalupe River.

My PERSONAL preference is for the pipeline to cross the beloved Guadalupe River under the river. I would prefer to have the pipeline not exposed to floodwaters. I do not want to even think of the possibility that when the river grows near flood stage, the precious drinking water in the pipeline could be impacted by trees that sail down the river like missiles.

I was very grateful when the pipeline was placed where it is now, because it represents progress toward reaching a goal of project completion on schedule. I acknowledge the large number of unknowns and delays about the pipeline crossing under the river.

Now, going back to dreams come true…… Is there information about the project on the Internet? Yes! There is plenty of information on the Internet about the alternate water supply project for Schertz and Seguin.

The State Water Plan can be found in the website of the Texas Water Development Board at http://www.twdb.state.tx.us. It encompasses the plans for all regions in the State of Texas.

The project is included in the 2002 State Water Plan “Water for Texas - 2002".

It is listed among the major water conveyances in the State of Texas proposed by the Regional Water Planning Groups (Water for Texas - 2002, Volume I, page 77).

In the State Plan, the project is identified as [conveyance] from Gonzales County to Seguin and Schertz. (Water for Texas – 2002, Volume I, page 76).

The project was recommended for inclusion in the State Water Plan, by the South Central Texas Regional Water Group, Region L (Water for Texas - Vol III, Regional Water Plan, Region L, mentioned numerously).

The regional water plan information can be accessed pressing “Volume I” from http://www.twdb.state.tx.us/rwp/l/

In the 2001 South Central Texas Regional Plan [basis of the State Water Plan ] the project is identified as SSWSP, meaning, Schertz Seguin Water Supply Project.

In Vol III of the State Water Plan Water for Texas 2002, the Executive Summary for Region L mentions the project SSWSP for planned implementation within 2000 and 2010 (Figure ES-15, page ES-23).

In this same section of the State Water Plan, -the Executive Summary for Region L-, the project is listed among the “Projects recognized in the Plan that are presently being implemented,.” in page ES-25 [Shertz-Seguin Water Supply Project (SSWSP)]

The plan for Guadalupe County is included in the” Regional Water Plan Summary” in “Table ES-3” [found in the same section Executive Summary]. This table lists the recommended water plan for all cities and user groups in all counties in Region L, including Guadalupe County.

This Table ES-3 lists the SSWSP meeting water needs projected to the year 2050, for Schertz and for Seguin.

Since the City of Schertz is located in three counties: Guadalupe, Comal and Bexar, the SSWSP appears in Table ES-3 meeting also projected water needs in Comal and Bexar counties [in addition to Guadalupe County].

The list of these important facts clearly shows the significance of this wonderful and cherished project, implemented thanks to the spirit of cooperation of two communities: Schertz and Seguin. I hope you can feel ownership of the project. I hope you too can feel proud of the project.

There is a user friendly guide to Volume I of the Region L plan, at http://www.tomkoch.com/Vol_2003/2003_1241/index.html. Using this guide, you can perform searches for words such as Seguin, Schertz, or SSWSP, or Schertz Seguin, or any other word, using the search engine capability provided. You can find out the information about the project.

I recommend this guide. It was designed with the needs of the user in mind. I hope you enjoy using it.

Also, at http://www.tomkoch.com/Vol_2002/2002_2454/ you can follow the water news in the area. The archive for news since May 6 is at http://www.tomkoch.com/Vol_2002/2002_2455/ . You can verify, that our project is very unique. Communities throughout South Central Texas are busy ensuring adequate water supply to meet their present and future needs.

In such a context, Seguin and Schertz are shining like stars of drought and water supply preparedness, with the implementation of their alternate water project which is one of the major water conveyances in the State of Texas, and it is totally official, it is included in the 2002 State Water Plan!!!!

To contribute to the Internet Beat column, contact Gloria R. Rivera at webmaster@seguin.net