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Definitions
A
abandoned water right
a water right which was not put to beneficial use for a number of years, generally five to seven years.
abandoned well
a well which is no longer used. In many places, abandoned wells must be filled with cement or concrete grout to prevent pollution of ground water bodies.
acre-foot
the amount of water required to cover one acre to a depth of one foot. An acre-foot equals 325,851 gallons, or 43,560 cubic feet. A flow of 1 cubic feet per second produce 1.98 acre-feet per day.
adjudication
a court proceeding to determine all rights to the use of water on a particular stream system or ground water basin.
aquifer
a geologic formation that will yield water to a well in sufficient quantities to make the production of water from this formation feasible for beneficial use; permeable layers of underground rock or sand that hold or transmit groundwater below the water table.
artesian aquifer
a geologic formation in which water is under sufficient hydrostatic pressure to be discharged to the surface without pumping.
artesian well
a water well drilled into a confined aquifer where enough hydraulic pressure exists for the water to flow to the surface without pumping.
artesian zone
a zone where water is confined in an aquifer under pressure so that the water will rise in the well casing or drilled hole above the bottom of the confining layer overlying the aquifer.
average annual recharge
amount of water entering the aquifer on an average annual basis. Averages mean very little for the Edwards because the climate of the region and structure of the aquifer produce a situation in which the area is usually water rich or water poor.
B
beneficial use
the amount of water necessary when reasonable intelligence and diligence are used for a stated purpose; Texas law recognizes the following uses as beneficial: (1) domestic and municipal uses, (2) industrial uses, (3) irrigation, (4) mining, (5) hydroelectric power, (6) navigation, (7) recreation, (8) stock raising, (9) public parks, and (10) game preserves.
brine
highly salty and heavily mineralized water containing heavy metal and organic contaminants.
C
certificate of water right
an official document which serves as court evidence of a perfected water right.
cistern
a tank used to collect rainwater runoff from the roof of a house or building.
collector well
a well located near a surface water supply used to lower the water table and thereby induce infiltration of surface water through the bed of the water body to the well..
confined aquifer
an aquifer that lies between two relatively impermeable rock layers.
confining bed or unit
a body of impermeable or distinctly less permeable material stratigraphically adjacent to one or more aquifers.
conjunctive management
integrated management and use of two or more water resources, such as an aquifer and a surface water body.
conservation
to protect from loss and waste. Conservation of water may mean to save or store water for later use.
correlative rights
rights that are coequal or that relate to one another, so that any one owner cannot take more than his share.
cubic foot per second (CFS)
the rate of discharge representing a volume of one cubic foot passing a given point during 1 second. This rate is equivalent to approximately 7.48 gallons per second, or 1.98 acre-feet per day.
D
desalination
the process of salt removal from sea or brackish water.
dispersion
the movement and spreading of contaminants out and down in an aquifer.
displacement
distance by which portions of the same geological layer are offset from each other by a fault.
diversion
to remove water from a water body. Diversions may be used to protect bottomland from hillside runoff, divert water away from active gullies, or protect buildings from runoff.
drainage area
of a stream at a specified location is that area, measured in a horizontal plane, enclosed by a topographic divide from which direct surface runoff from precipitation normally drains by gravity into the stream above the specified location.
dripstone
deposits of calcium carbonate that include stalactites, stalagmites, columns, and cave pearls.
drought
although there is no universally accepted definition of drought, it is generally the term applied to periods of less than average precipitation over a certain period of time. In south Texas ranchers say drought begins as soon as it stops raining.
E
Edwards Aquifer
an arch-shaped belt of porous, water bearing limestones composed of the Comanche Peak, Edwards, and Georgetown formations trending from west to east to northeast through Kinney, Uvalde, Medina, Bexar, Comal, Hays, Travis, and Williamson counties.
Edwards outcrop
where the Edwards and associated limestone formations are found at the surface. This area is also referred to as the Recharge Zone.
electrodialysis
a process which uses an electrical current and an arrangement of permeable membranes to separate soluble minerals from water. It is often used to desalinate salt or brackish water.
EPA
Environmental Protection Agency
escarpment
the topographic expression of a fault.
F
"first in time, first in right"
phrase indicating that older water rights have priority over more recent rights if there is not enough water to satisfy all rights.
fixed ground water
water held in saturated material that it is not available as a source of water for pumping.
forfeited water right
a water right canceled because of several consecutive years of nonuse.
free ground water
water in interconnected pore spaces in the zone of saturation down to the first impervious barrier, moving under the control of the water table slope.
fresh water
water containing less than 1,000 parts per million (ppm) of dissolved solids of any type.
G
gallon
A unit of volume. A U.S. gallon contains 231 cubic inches, 0.133 cubic feet, or 3.785 liters. One U.S. gallon of water weighs 8.3 lbs.
geohydrology
a term which denotes the branch of hydrology relating to subsurface or subterranean waters; that is, to all waters below the surface.
groundwater
water within the earth that supplies wells and springs; water in the zone of saturation where all openings in rocks and soil are filled, the upper surface of which forms the water table.
groundwater recharge
the inflow to a ground water reservoir.
groundwater reservoir
an aquifer or aquifer system in which ground water is stored. The water may be placed in the aquifer by artificial or natural means.
groundwater runoff
the portion of runoff which has passed into the ground, has become ground water, and has been discharged into a stream channel as spring or seepage water.
H
hardpan
a shallow layer of earth material which has become relatively hard and impermeable, usually through the deposition of minerals. In the Edwards region hardpans of clay are common.
hard water
water containing a high level of calcium, magnesium, and other minerals. Hard water reduces the cleansing power of soap and produces scale in hot water lines and appliances.
hardness (water)
condition caused by dissolved salts of calcium, magnesium, and iron, such as bicarbonates, carbonates, sulfates, chlorides,and nitrates.
hydroelectric plant
electric power plant in which the energy of falling water is used to spin a turbine generator to produce electricity.
hydrologic unit
is a geographic area representing part or all of a surface drainage basin or distinct hydrologic feature.
hydropower
electrical energy produced by falling water.
hydrostatic pressure
pressure exerted by or existing within a liquid at rest with respect to adjacent bodies.
I
impermeable
material that does not permit fluids to pass through.
impoundment
a body of water such as a pond, confined by a dam, dike, floodgate or other barrier. It is used to collect and store water for future use.
inchoate water right
an unperfected water right.
instream use
use of water that does not require withdrawal or diversion from its natural watercourse; for example, the use of water for navigation, recreation, and support of fish and wildlife.
irrigation return flow
water which is not consumptively used by plants and returns to a surface or ground water supply. Under conditions of water right litigation, the definition may be restricted to measurable water returning to the stream from which it was diverted.
irrigation water
water which is applied to assist crops in areas or during times where rainfall is inadequate.
L
leaching
extraction or flushing out of dissolved or suspended materials from the soil, solid waste, or another medium by water or other liquids as they percolate down through the medium to groundwater.
limestone
rock that consists mainly of calcium carbonate and is chiefly formed by accumulation of organic remains.
M
micrograms per liter - Ug/L
micrograms per liter of water. One thousands micrograms per liter is equivalent to 1 milligram per liter. This measure is equivalent to parts per billion (ppb)
migration
the movement of oil, gas, contaminants, water, or other liquids through porous and permeable rock.
milligrams per liter - mg/L
milligrams per liter of water. This measure is equivalent to parts per million (ppm).
N
natural flow
the rate of water movement past a specified point on a natural stream. The flow comes from a drainage area in which there has been no stream diversion caused by storage, import, export, return flow, or change in consumptive use caused by man-controlled modifications to land use. Natural flow rarely occurs in a developed country.
natural resource
any form of matter or energy obtained from the environment that meets human needs.
nonporous
something which does not allow water to pass through it. Compare porous.
NTU
nephlometric turbidity units.
O
orographic precipitation
rainfall that occurs as a result of warm, humid air being forced to rise by topographic features such as mountains. Precipitation on the Edwards Plateau is slightly higher because of the orographic effect of the escarpment and hills.
outcrop
exposed at the surface. The Edwards limestone outcrops in its recharge zone.
P
perched water table
groundwater standing unprotected over a confined zone.
perfected water right
a water right which indicates that the uses anticipated by an applicant, and made under permit, were made for beneficial use. Usually it is irrevocable unless voluntarily canceled or forfeited due to several consecutive years of nonuse.
permeability
the ability of a water bearing material to transmit water. It is measured by the quantity of water passing through a unit cross section, in a unit time, under 100 percent hydraulic gradient.
pH
numeric value that describes the intensity of the acid or basic (alkaline) conditions of a solution. The pH scale is from 0 to 14, with the neutral point at 7.0. Values lower than 7 indicate the presence of acids and greater than 7.0 the presence of alkalis (bases). Technically speaking, pH is the logarithm of the reciprocal (negative log) of the hydrogen ion concentration (hydrogen ion activity) in moles per liter.
phosphorous
a plant nutrient that can cause an overabundance of bacteria and algae when high amounts are present, leading to a depletion of oxygen and fish kills. High levels of phosphorous in water are usually caused by agricultural runoff or improperly operating wastewater treatment plants.
piezometroc surface
the imaginary surface to which groundwater rises under hydrostatic pressure in wells or springs.
ppb - parts per billion
number of parts of a chemical found in one billion parts of a solid, liquid, or gaseous mixture. Equivalent to micrograms per liter (Ug/L).
ppm - parts per million
number of parts of a chemical found in one million parts of a solid, liquid, or gaseous mixture. Equivalent to milligrams per liter (mg/L).
price at equilibrium
where supply and demand curves intersect. The price at equilibrium is what allocates resources.
priority date
the date of establishment of a water right. It is determined by adjudication of rights established before the passage of the Water Code. The rights established by application have the application date as the date of priority.
pump
a device which moves, compresses, or alters the pressure of a fluid, such as water or air, being conveyed through a natural or artificial channel.
pumped hydroelectric storage
storing water for future use in generating electricity. Excess electrical energy produced during a period of low demand is used to pump water up to a reservoir. When demand is high, the water is released to operate a hydroelectric generator.
R
recharge
refers to water entering an underground aquifer through faults, fractures, or direct absorption.
recharge zone
the area where a formation allows available water to enter the aquifer. Generally, that area where the Edwards Aquifer and associated limestones crop out in Kinney, Uvalde, Medina, Bexar, Comal, Hays, Travis, and Williamson counties and the outcrops of other formations in proximity to the Edwards limestone, where faulting and fracturing may allow recharge of the surface waters to the Edwards Aquifer.
reservoir
a pond, lake, tank, or basin (natural or human made) where water is collected and used for storage. Large bodies of groundwater are called groundwater reservoirs; water behind a dam is also called a reservoir of water.
right of free capture
the idea that the water under a person's land belongs to that person and they are free to capture and use as much as they want. Also called the "law of the biggest pump".
riparian water right
the legal right held by an owner of land contiguous to or bordering on a natural stream or lake, to take water from the source for use on the contiguous land.
riparian zone
a stream and all the vegetation on its banks.
runoff
surface water entering rivers, freshwater lakes, or reservoirs.
S
saline water
water containing more than 1,000 parts per million (ppm) of dissolved solids of any type.
salinity
amount of dissolved salts in a given volume of water.
seep
a spot where water contained in the ground oozes slowly to the surface and often forms a pool; a small spring.
spring
an issue of water from the earth; a natural fountain; a source of a body or reservoir of water.
stormwater discharge
precipitation that does not infiltrate into the ground or evaporate due to impervious land surfaces but instead flows onto adjacent land or water areas and is routed into drain/sewer systems.
subsidence
sinking down of part of the earth's crust due to underground excavation, such as removal groundwater.
surface water
water that flows in streams and rivers and in natural lakes, in wetlands, and in reservoirs constructed by humans.
sustainable management
method of exploiting a resource that can be carried on indefinitely. Removal of water from an aquifer in excess of recharge is, in the long term, not a sustainable management method.
sustained overdraft
long term withdrawal from the aquifer of more water than is being recharged.
T
transmissivity
refers to the rate at which limestone allows the transmission of water. Limestone can be highly porous, but not very transmissive if the pores are not connected to each other. Technically speaking, it is the rate at which water is transmitted through a unit width of aquifer under unit hydraulic gradient. Transmissivity is directly proportional to aquifer thickness, thus it is high where the Edwards is thick and low where it is thin, given the same hydraulic conductivity.
tributary
a stream that contributes its water to another stream or body of water.
U
USGS
United States Geological Survey
unconsolidated formations
naturally occurring earth formations that have not been lithified. Alluvium, soil, gravel, clay, and overburden are some of the terms used to describe this type of formation.
V
vested water right
the right granted by a state water agency to use either surface or ground water.
W
wastewater
water containing waste including greywater, blackwater or water contaminated by waste contact, including process-generated and contaminated rainfall runoff.
water table
level below the earth's surface at which the ground becomes saturated with water. The surface of an unconfined aquifer which fluctuates due to seasonal precipitation.
water table aquifer
an aquifer confined only by atmospheric pressure (water levels will not rise in the well above the confining bed).
water well
any artificial excavation constructed for the purpose of exploring for or producing ground water.
water year
the 12-month period, usually October 1 through September 30. The water year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends and which includes 9 of the 12 months. Thus, the year ending September 30, 1998 is called the1998 Water Year.
waterfall
a sudden, nearly vertical drop in a stream, as it flows over rock.
waterlogging
saturation of soil with irrigation water so the water table rises close to the surface.
watershed
land area from which water drains toward a common watercourse in a natural basin.
wetland
area that is regularly wet or flooded and has a water table that stands at or above the land surface for at least part of the year, such as a bog, pond, fen, estuary, or marsh.
Z
zone of saturation
the space below the water table in which all the interstices (pore spaces) are filled with water. Water in the zone of saturation is called groundwater.
News
09/21/09Investor Conference 2009 A Success
Eckard Companies is pleased to announce another successful Investor Conference, both in terms of the quality of the presentations and speakers, as well as Partner attendance. The Eckard Companies' Investor Conference 2009 was held on September 11th - 13th in San Antonio, Texas at the Hyatt Regency Hill Country.
07/07/09
With National Headlines Looking Down See Why Texas is Looking Up
What is the Texaplex?
David Winans coined the term "Texaplex" to describe the triangular region of Texas that contains 75% of the state's population. Watch the video and see why everyone is talking about the Texaplex.
Contact Info
mailing addressP.O. Box 2039
Boerne, Texas 78006
telephone (800) 527 8895
(830) 755 2112
facsimile (830) 755 9188
info@eckardcompanies.com
