Planners talk combining water systems

Members of the North East Texas Regional Water Planning Group (Region D) Wednesday focused on the need for regionalization of small water supply systems, water quality concerns such as the growth of non-native aquatic plants on area lakes, and a recent study involving mercury in Caddo Lake.

Meeting in Gilmer, the group heard engineering consultant Stan Hayes report on a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality policy encouraging the regionalization of some small water supply systems to protect the public health and assure long-term supplies of safe water.

Hayes said a study of water supply systems in North East Texas shows that the area's best interests could be served by combining 51 systems in ten clusters. An additional 93 small systems have been invited to discuss regionalization, but only 21 systems responded so far. He said the TCEQ goal is to provide timely and cost-effective solutions for bringing about quality water supply services. Some small systems are facing an increasing demand on their resources to stay in compliance with the federal safe drinking water act, he said.

Hayes said there exists a growing movement in Texas toward regionalization of water systems.

Robert Speight with the Cypress Valley Navigation District reported on the difficulties of controlling giant salvinia, a non-native water plant, and water hyacinth and hydrilla in area lakes.

He said lake officials recently built a two-mile $35,000 barricade across Caddo Lake to control salvinia, but it stopped the plant's growth only temporarily, and additional control efforts were needed and will be implemented.

Matt Chumchal, a consultant from Texas Christian University, said the presence of mercury in Caddo Lake has resulted in a warning not to eat largemouth bass taken from the lake. The mercury concentrations are the highest, however, for spotted gar, raccoons and cottonmouth snakes.

He said mercury levels are not the same for all fish and creatures in the lake, and appear to be higher in forested wetlands than open water with the highest numbers being in open water.

Future studies are warranted, he said, and should compare mercury levels with other North East Texas lakes and surrounding areas.

The North East Texas Water Planning Group will hold its next meeting on Thursday, August 14, starting at 1 p.m. at the Mount Pleasant Civic Center.

Group administrator Walt Sears said the Group will then fill eight vacancies, three of which are vacancies created by members who are not seeking new terms or who are not eligible for new terms. They are Dean Carrell of Rains County, John Bryan of Morris County, and Larry Calvin of Delta County.