|
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
relating to the contracts of the Edwards Aquifer recharge, storage, |
|
and recovery projects. |
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
SECTION 1. Sections 1.44(a), (b), and (c), Chapter 626, |
|
Acts of the 73rd Legislature, Regular Session, 1993, are amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
(a) The authority may contract with any investor-owned |
|
utility or political subdivision of the state under Chapter 791, |
|
Government Code, to provide for artificial recharge of the aquifer, |
|
through injection wells or with surface water subject to the |
|
control of the investor-owned utility or political subdivision, for |
|
the subsequent retrieval of the water by the investor-owned utility |
|
or political subdivision or its authorized assignees for beneficial |
|
use within the authority. |
|
(b) The authority may not unreasonably deny a request to |
|
enter into a cooperative contract under this section if the |
|
investor-owned utility or political subdivision agrees to: |
|
(1) file with the authority records of the injection |
|
or artificial recharge of the aquifer; and |
|
(2) provide for protection of the quality of the |
|
aquifer water and of the rights of aquifer users in designating the |
|
location of injection wells or recharge dams, the methods of |
|
injection or recharge, and the location and type of retrieval |
|
wells. |
|
(c) The investor-owned utility or political subdivision |
|
causing artificial recharge of the aquifer is entitled to withdraw |
|
during any 12-month period the measured amount of water actually |
|
injected or artificially recharged during the preceding 12-month |
|
period, as demonstrated and established by expert testimony, less |
|
an amount determined by the authority to: |
|
(1) account for that part of the artificially |
|
recharged water discharged through springs; and |
|
(2) compensate the authority in lieu of users' fees. |
|
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |