Business Wire
Efforts to protect the aquifer that provides much of the Capital Region’s drinking water could include working with industry to reduce its groundwater use to about 10% of the current level. The reduction, which would be phased in over time, is only one option the Capital Area Groundwater Conservation Commission could consider to protect the Southern Hills Aquifer from saltwater intrusion. The effort could be paired with a public-private partnership to develop a new water supply for industrial uses. Representatives of The Water Institute of the Gulf, which the commission has tasked to lead creation of a strategy to protect the aquifer, gave commissioners a status report Thursday. Other options could include renegotiating existing well permits to reduce how much users are allowed to pump out. More here.