Water Resources Research

      Posted by Dr. Kyle Murray on May 7, 2009

Where should we begin? If it is water related then we study it, sample it, measure it, rehab it, manage it, and model it.

Groundwater: Our faculty and students have completed research projects in the Queen City Aquifer of Frio County, TX; Edwards Aquifer in San Antonio, TX; Gulf Coast Aquifer in Karnes County, TX; Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer in Bexar and Brazos County, TX. In addition, we have studied groundwater systems in Denver, CO and Bend, OR. Currently we are studying groundwater systems in Blanco County, TX and western Colorado. These studies have included groundwater quality sampling and analysis, borehole geophysical surveys, borehole camera surveys, well rehabilitation and pumping tests. Numerical groundwater models have also been built in our laboratory to demonstrate the interactions of fresh and saline water at the bad water line of TX coastal plain aquifers.


Surface Water: We have completed a hydrologic and hydraulic modeling study of the November 2004 flooding of the Guadalupe River of TX. This study used the HEC-HMS and HEC-RAS codes, in addition to GIS-based processing tools: ArcHydro, GeoHMS, and GeoRAS.

Additional studies in the San Antonio area were completed to develop the Management Practices for Natural Waterways document, and the associated Appendix F. This document was completed in cooperation with numerous local organizations and serves as the benchmark guide for maintenance, restoration or other management activities along the many waterways of San Antonio and Bexar County.

Featured Project: Jasper Aquifer Characterization

The City currently owns 10 wells that were drilled for municipal water supply. Five wells are currently being used for water supply and treated by a Reverse Osmosis (RO) system to reduce the amount of total dissolved solids (TDS), chloride (Cl), and arsenic (As). These water supply wells produce water from the Catahoula aquifer or Jasper aquifer. They are relatively shallow, produce water with average water quality, and are able to maintain current production rates without excessive drawdown. Four wells are not currently used for production and one well is used for recreational use. Because the population of the City is expected to increase over the next few decades a corresponding increase in water demand is expected.

With the City currently operating its water delivery system at full capacity and producing groundwater exclusively, our objective was to investigate the production potential of the unused wells. This was accomplished by determining conditions of existing wells, rehabilitating wells that appeared to be suitable for production, measuring aquifer properties by conducting aquifer tests, collecting water samples, interpreting analyses of water chemistry, and recommending actions to expand the water production, treatment, and supply system.

Initial examination showed that the integrity of two wells was sufficient to rehabilitate, and pump during aquifer tests. Yields after rehabilitation increased from 50 to 150 gpm and from 100 to 300 gpm. These yields can supplement the existing water supply system and meet additional water demand resulting from projected population growth (at least until 2050) in the City. Aquifer tests indicate transmissivity of 1,437 ft2/day, storativity of 2.41 x 10-4, and hydraulic conductivity of 24.6 ft/day. Water samples from the rehabbed wells showed average As levels of 0.084 mg/L which exceed the EPA MCL for As, TDS of 2,222 mg/L, and Cl of 890 mg/L, which exceed EPA Secondary Drinking Water Standards for TDS and Cl. If the wells were placed into production, then additional maintenance and construction needs to be completed at the wells, while the existing RO system needs to be expanded to treat water to a quality suitable for drinking.

Water Agencies




Edwards Aquifer





  • J-17 Water Levels

  • Edwards Aquifer Authority
  • Edwards Aquifer .Net