The Edwards Aquifer provides drinking water for over 1.5 million
people. The Barton Springs segment of the Aquifer provides
drinking water for around 50,000 people in Southern Travis and
Northern Hays Counties. Barton Springs has never run dry in
known time. During the drought of record in the 1950 spring flow
dropped to less than 10 cubic feet per second. Today, wells pump
out 10 cubic feet of water per second. This means that if we do
not start conserving and reducing our use of aquifer water, a
severe drought could make Barton Springs dry. We are offering
suggestions to the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation
District to improve management of aquifer pumping to ensure
spring flows for swimmers and salamanders alike. Take Action!
Send comments to the Conservation District encouraging them to
protect spring flows.