Water monitoring system placed along Leon/Bosque River watershed

By MINDY POEHL | Central Texas Edition

Chris Pearson, water quality specialist with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (right), demonstrates to Gov. Rick Perry how the water monitoring equipment at the North Bosque River near Clifton measures the quality of water . Photo by Mindy Poehl

Oct. 21, 2004 - The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), joined by Gov. Rick Perry, demonstrated a new, near-real time pilot water monitoring system during a special news conference on Oct. 12 at a monitoring site at the North Bosque River near Clifton. The new monitoring system will be used to automatically test water at four different sites in the Leon/Bosque watershed in an effort to help improve water quality.

"This part of the state is beautiful and it faces unique challenges when it comes to insuring a safe and clean supply of water," Perry said during the ceremony. "Water is mighty important. It is our key to life and a key to the future of our state," he said. "It irrigates our farms, runs our businesses, keeps families healthy - we swim in it, we fish in it, we boat in it - it adds beauty to our landscapes and provides habitats for many species of aquatic plants and animals. We have an important responsibility to protect it and make sure it's made abundant for future citizens of this state."

The Environmental Monitoring and Response System (EMRS) Water Pilot Project employs four state-of-the-art stream side monitors at locations in the Leon/Bosque watershed. The automated monitors test water quality around the clock.

Every six hours the monitors take a sample and test for high levels of nutrients, such as phosphate, nitrate and ammonia. The data is then sent to computers. When nutrient levels are too high, notifications are sent to interested parties upstream and downstream, as well as to the TCEQ. It allows TCEQ inspectors to quickly respond and take appropriate actions to protect the water supply.

"This program represents a major step forward in the battle against pollution, to keep our waters clean, to ensure health and safety of our citizens," Perry stated. "It will allow our dairy farmers, municipalities and industrial producers the ability to take pro-active steps to ensure and protect our water."

The monitors are located on Green Creek near Clairette; on Resley Creek near Dublin; on the North Bosque River near Clifton; and on the Leon River near Gatesville.

"We chose the Leon/Bosque watershed because this is the heart of dairy country and we know large numbers of dairy operations and waste water discharges from other sources can have an affect on the water quality," Perry explained. "Because of the cooperative effort between the state and private industries I'm confident we can solve this complex issue that impacts the Waco area, and we can use this model for other areas that face similar issues."

Larry Soward, commissioner of TCEQ added, "With technology, we will minimize and hopefully prevent pollution events that affect our citizens. EMRS will give us a true picture of the condition of our rivers and lakes when we need it."

Executive Director of the Texas Association of Dairymen, John Cowan, said dairymen are concerned about the water and the land.

"Texas Association of Dairymen fully supports the project and we believe it will provide badly needed answers to questions about water quality. It will also provide more detailed data about what's in our water and all of us upstream and downstream will benefit."