Mulch fire water standoff resolved

After nearly coming to blows over how to extinguish the Helotes much fire, local officials finally appear to have convinced the state environmental agency, TCEQ, that they need to be extraordinarily careful with their use of water.

From Friday's Express-News:

A compromise was reached Friday on fighting the Helotes mulch fire that allows state contractors to use San Antonio Water System water on the pile on a test basis, with state officials agreeing to abandon that approach if contamination shows up during extensive monitoring of surrounding wells.

...

The SAWS [San Antonio Water System] board voted 6-0 to rescind its earlier decision to deny water to the site. Earlier firefighting efforts had contaminated wells more than a half-mile away in the Edwards Aquifer, the water source for 1.7 million people in the region.

"We want to reiterate that our position on this issue is to preserve the quality of our water supply and the protection of our aquifer," said SAWS board Chairman Alex Briseño. "The assurances agreed to by the executive director of TCEQ show that they have received our message loud and clear. TCEQ underestimated this community's love and commitment for the Edwards Aquifer."

The revised plan, which could be put in place as soon as both Shankle and Briseño sign a contract, calls for several million gallons of water to be put into the clay-lined quenching pit that's been constructed next to the huge burning pile.

If it hasn't leaked after 24 hours, then SAWS will provide up to 300,000 gallons a day for three days for firefighting efforts on the debris pile to cool equipment and its operators and to keep down smoke and ash. They'll move burning debris into the quenching pit.

After the third day, operations will cease for two days while the state agency and the Edwards Aquifer Authority continue sampling up to 31 wells around the pile twice a day, watching for evidence of contamination. If none is found, firefighting operations can resume.

"If any degradation to a water well is detected, all use of water in the site will cease immediately and they will actively pursue a new plan that does not include use of water directly on the pile," Steve Clouse, SAWS vice president of production and treatment operations, told the board.

It's quite amazing that it took so long for TCEQ to agree to a cautious approach such as this, especially given the well contamination discovered a few weeks ago after the initial fire-fighting efforts.  Late last week, Dig Deeper Texas pointed to an Express-News editorial that may partially explain this, as TCEQ officials reportedly were unaware that there are no treatment plants for Edwards aquifer water.  That such  plants are not necessary is one reason why the aquifer is so valuable.  Even with its chronic lack of funding, TCEQ has no excuse not to know such basic facts about their state.