STWR Offers Specifics on Water Supply

San Antonio, TX, June 07, 2010 --(PR.com)-- Rodney T. Smith, Ph.D., President of the Board of Managers of Southwest Texas Water Resources, LP (STWR) spoke today before a group of San Antonio business leaders at the Frost Bank Business Advisory Council luncheon, providing specifics on his team’s approach to managing the aquifer -- the proposed Uvalde Water Project. The privately funded effort combines environmental and endangered species protection, economic development plans, and ensures that the water needs of the region are not compromised.

“When it comes to what metropolitan areas, including San Antonio, want in water it is all about supply reliability,” Smith told the group of business leaders. “The Uvalde Water Project diversifies the region’s water supply off the San Antonio Pool of the Edwards Aquifer. It is a balanced approach that, when teamed with conservation efforts, respects the region’s environment and agricultural heritage, while also delivering a powerful economic boost to a region that is experiencing tremendous growth.”

Smith also pointed out that reliability of water supply is an important consideration when businesses are making decisions on location and expansion of their operations. “The Uvalde Water Project will provide the Edwards Aquifer region with a more reliable source of water by ensuring that the San Antonio Pool and the Uvalde Pool of the aquifer are utilized in a manner that benefits the entire region,” Smith said. “As San Antonio water usage increases, we need to ensure that proper management of the aquifer protects the San Marcos and Comal springs and that is what the Uvalde Water Project will do by diversifying off the San Antonio Pool.”

A recent poll conducted for STWR by Hamilton Campaigns, a national polling firm, indicates that Bexar County voters overwhelmingly recognize the need for a long-term reliable water supply for the San Antonio economy (91% of poll respondents described as important) and support transporting excess water from under-utilized pools of the Edwards Aquifer to San Antonio (62% favored this option), Smith added.

The Uvalde Water Project would create a water company based in Uvalde County to develop, finance and operate a well field there and construct a regional water pipeline from Uvalde County to Bexar County.

“The Uvalde Water Project protects springflows and offers a cost-effective solution to ensure superior water supply reliability,” Smith said. “Aside from the economic benefits of the project, we believe that an effective habitat conservation plan must recognize that the location of pumping in the Edwards Aquifer has environmental consequences, and the Uvalde Water Project would serve as a solution to this concern.”

In February, Rodney Smith presented the environmental benefits of the Uvalde Water Project to the Edwards Aquifer Recovery Implementation Program (EARIP). Since the Uvalde Water Project would require a change in Texas law, the Texas Legislature itself could make the changes in law to take advantage of the projects benefits. Additionally, the EARIP could consider recommending that the Texas Legislature take notice of the project as a resource management tool during its ongoing deliberations. Smith also testified in April before the Texas House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee at the State Capitol in Austin.

About Southwest Texas Water Resources: Southwest Texas Water Resources (STWR) is a private business founded to protect and develop water resources across the United States to meet growing municipal needs for reliable and affordable water supplies consistent with environmental stewardship.

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