Taking Steps to Protect the Edwards Aquifer
In September, an energy company proposed laying a crude oil pipeline over portions of the Edwards Aquifer. Although the company is no longer proposing a pipeline over San Antonio's primary source of drinking water, the situation revealed that the Edwards Aquifer is vulnerable.
Our community has a long history of protecting the Edwards Aquifer, and for good reason: it supplies 80% of our water supply.
This week, the City Council’s Intergovernmental Relations Committee discussed what we could do to ensure the safety of our water supply. The City doesn’t have any regulatory authority over pipeline projects, so the discussion focused on how the city could work with the state to protect the aquifer.
Further, the resolution would direct City staff to investigate what measures our state government could take to help protect our community. For example, can the state require companies to complete an environmental impact study for proposed pipelines?
Another possibility: could the state allow for public input on a proposed pipeline route? The state’s Public Utility Commission gives affected communities a chance to weigh in on the routes of power lines—a solution might be as simple as the state giving residents a say in pipeline routes.
To be clear, this work focuses on protecting the Edwards Aquifer from a pipeline because it could threaten our water supply. It is not a call to arms to oppose all pipeline projects.
In fact, natural gas pipeline’s may play an important role in transitioning our economy away from coal and toward natural gas and, eventually, renewable energy.
Natural gas pipelines even give energy companies a reason to capture natural gas that leaks from fracking projects, for example, instead of letting the gas leak into the atmosphere and accelerate climate change. And, of course, there’s the fact that building a single pipeline would take a whole fleet of commercial trucks off the road.
Thank you, Sul Ross Football!
I want to share a special thank you to the Sul Ross football team for their selfless work this past weekend. When they called us to ask if we had any volunteer opportunities, we knew immediately what residents could use help with: alley clean up.
This past Saturday, we all met on Kentucky Ave to help a block of older residents clean up debris people dumped in their alley. The football team removed old tires, tree branches, and even a toilet.
Thank you, Sul Ross Rebels!
Public Safety Committee Hits the Road
As a reminder, we’re taking the City Council’s Public Safety Committee into the community this Tuesday, Nov. 19, at John Jay High School. You’ll be able to hear directly from the Police and Fire Departments about their Mental Health Unit and Homelessness Programs. The meeting will also allow for comments by members of the public.
Public Safety Committee members include myself as the chairperson, District 2 Councilwoman Jada Andrews-Sullivan, District 3 Councilwoman Rebecca Viagran, District 6 Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda, District 10 Councilman Clayton Perry.
The meeting will start at 6:00 p.m. Consider joining us!
Save the Date: Holiday Tree Lightings
