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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study by the Texas Water Development Board of the |
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hydrology and geology of the confined and unconfined aquifers in |
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this state. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. (a) The Texas Water Development Board shall |
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conduct a study of the hydrology and geology of the confined and |
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unconfined aquifers in this state to determine: |
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(1) the quality and quantity of groundwater in those |
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aquifers, specifically regarding the salinity of those aquifers; |
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(2) whether those aquifers are tributary or |
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non-tributary; |
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(3) the contribution of those aquifers to any surface |
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flow of any water in this state; |
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(4) the contribution of those aquifers to any other |
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aquifer in this state; and |
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(5) the suitability of those aquifers for the disposal |
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of concentrate from desalination facilities through the use of |
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injection wells. |
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(b) In conducting the study, the board shall produce: |
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(1) a map that identifies the area and water quality of |
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the confined and unconfined aquifers in this state; |
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(2) a map that identifies which aquifers are tributary |
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and which are non-tributary; |
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(3) a report on the contribution of those aquifers to |
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any other aquifer in this state; and |
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(4) a report on the suitability of those aquifers for |
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the disposal of concentrate from desalination facilities through |
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the use of injection wells. |
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(c) Before conducting the study, the board shall determine: |
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(1) the minimum rate at which an aquifer must |
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contribute to another aquifer in this state or to the surface flow |
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of any water in this state in order to be included in the study; and |
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(2) the definition of "suitability" for the purposes |
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of Subsection (a)(5) of this section. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than December 31, 2016, the Texas Water |
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Development Board shall report the results of the study conducted |
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under this Act to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house |
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of representatives, and the standing committees of the senate and |
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the house of representatives that have jurisdiction over natural |
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resources. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |