Have you ever stopped to think about where your water comes from, or perhaps how we know it’s safe to drink, swim in, or use every day? That’s exactly what World Water Monitoring Day is all about! Celebrated each year on September 18th, this day inspires communities around the globe to roll up their sleeves, test their local water sources, and learn why protecting them matters.

At the Edwards Aquifer Authority Education Outreach Center (EAA EOC), we’re educating visitors about the importance of our Edwards Aquifer through our interactive learning stations. We see this as the perfect opportunity to connect the community with the vital role water plays in our lives and in sustaining the Edwards Aquifer. By learning how to monitor and care for our water, we’re inspiring the next generation of water stewards because keeping our water clean and pristine is a job we can all be a part of!

Comal Springs bubbling up in New Braunfels, Texas.

When it comes to the Edwards Aquifer, monitoring and sampling streams, wells, and springs across the region provides a way for us to understand and protect a vital water resource for two-and-one-half million South Central Texans. Did you know? The EAA operates six continuous water quality sondes in the Comal and San Marcos springs systems as part of the Edwards Aquifer Habitat Conservation Plan (EAHCP). These sondes are probe like instruments that measure and record parameters like water temperature, specific conductivity, dissolved oxygen, pH, and turbidity.

The EAA’s Water Quality Monitoring Program provides data about the quality of water entering the aquifer from surface streams, groundwater moving through the aquifer, and the composite water that emerges at springs.

Water quality in the Contributing Zone is affected by both rainfall and evaporation and may change rapidly in response to storm events. Similarly, water quality in the Recharge Zone can change quickly and vary significantly because of stream infiltration from the Contributing Zone, direct rainfall, and rapid groundwater velocities. However, water quality in the deep Artesian Zone is generally more stable because of slower groundwater velocities and larger volumes of water available for dilution.

By paying attention to water quality, we’re not only protecting the groundwater that flows beneath our feet but also supporting the plants, endangered species, and ecosystems that depend on the aquifer. It’s a reminder that caring for our water is really about caring for our whole community.

EAA staff collecting water quality samples.

1. Spill Reporting: In an effort to protect and preserve the Edwards Aquifer, we ask that all spills over the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone be reported to the Edwards Aquifer Authority through the Groundwater Protection section. Reporting a spill can ensure that the Edwards Aquifer Authority takes necessary steps to prevent pollution of the aquifer.

2. Report Abandoned Wells: Under EAA rules, wells that have been abandoned must be addressed to avoid creating a pathway for pollution to the aquifer. Reporting abandoned wells helps the EAA identify the well, and whether or not it needs to be sealed permanently or capped if there are plans to use it in the future.

3. Water Clean-Up: Take part in clean-up events to remove trash and pollutants from local waterways to avoid water contamination.

4. Water Conservation: Practice reducing water usage at home, school, and work. Think turning off the water when brushing your teeth, collect rainwater to use for watering plants, and encourage others to do the same!

5. Get Educated: Schedule a FREE visit to our center, the EAA Education Outreach Center to learn how multiple factors contribute to the quality and quantity of our Edwards Aquifer, and what YOU can do to help protect this vital resource for future generations.

World Water Monitoring Day is the perfect reminder that clean water isn’t something we should ever take for granted. Every creek, river, and aquifer plays an important part in keeping our communities healthy, and protecting these resources takes all of us. That’s where the Edwards Aquifer Authority Education Outreach Center (EOC) comes in, and the best part? It’s completely free to visit!

The EAA EOC is a hands-on, interactive space where you can explore the story of the Edwards Aquifer and see just how important it is to our region. From water quality and water quantity to conservation and protection, the exhibits make big ideas easy to understand (and actually fun to learn about). You’ll get to see endangered species up-close, learn how water moves underground, what affects its availability, and how pollution can sneak its way in, all explained in a way that clicks.

But the EAA EOC isn’t just about learning cool facts. It’s about making connections to the water you use every single day. It really makes you stop and think: the simple choices we make, like turning off the tap while brushing our teeth, fixing a leaky faucet, or reporting a spill, all play a role in protecting the aquifer. Those little actions add up to something huge when it comes to safeguarding our water supply.

World Water Monitoring Day is a reminder of why protecting the Edwards Aquifer is so important, for both people and wildlife. Two-and-one-half million South Central Texans depend on this aquifer for their daily water needs, and the system is also home to threatened and endangered species like the Texas blind salamander, San Marcos salamander, Peck’s cave amphipod, Comal Springs riffle beetle, Comal Springs dryopid beetle, Texas wild rice, and Fountain Darter.

This World Water Monitoring Day, celebrate with us and head over to the EAA EOC to learn more about how you can help protect the Edwards Aquifer, and become an aquifer ambassador by visiting your aquifer education destination!