Texas Groundwater Association
Affiliate of the National Ground Water Association
4th Quarter - Winter 2024
Fountainhead
IN THIS ISSUE
> 2025 TGWA
Convention preview
> Water well industry
key to Texas economy
> TDLR reviewing
water well driller,
pump installer rules
TGWA Fountainhead - Page 1
he first editions
he first editions
of
the
TGWA
of
the
TGWA
Fountainhead
Fountainhead
newsletter date
newsletter date
back to the 1960s.
back to the 1960s.
A
lot
has
changed
A
lot
has
changed
since then, but the TGWA
since then, but the TGWA
mission stays the same:
mission stays the same:
to promote and serve the
to promote and serve the
water well industry in
water well industry in
Texas.
Texas.
We’re determined to
We’re determined to
preserve
the
quarterly
preserve
the
quarterly
Fountainhead
newsletter
Fountainhead
newsletter
as a valuable resource for
as a valuable resource for
the TGWA community.
the TGWA community.
Inside each issue, you’ll
Inside each issue, you’ll
find articles highlighting
find articles highlighting
our members.
our members.
You’ll also get updates
You’ll also get updates
from the TGWA president
from the TGWA president
and
board
division
and
board
division
chairs,
industry
news,
chairs,
industry
news,
and the latest product
and the latest product
advertisements.
advertisements.
We see these pages
We see these pages
as a place to celebrate
as a place to celebrate
member milestones and
member milestones and
accomplishments, connect
accomplishments, connect
TGWA
members
across
TGWA
members
across
the state, and promote
the state, and promote
discussion and education.
discussion and education.
So, yes, the newsletter
So, yes, the newsletter
cover may look a little
cover may look a little
different from years gone
different from years gone
by. But if you drill down,
by. But if you drill down,
it’s the same Fountainhead
it’s the same Fountainhead
y’all know and love!
y’all know and love!
Theresa Davis, TGWA
TGWA is gearing up for our annual
convention — an exciting event that
brings together hundreds of ground
water industry professionals for sev
eral days of education, networking,
fund-raising, and celebration.
The convention will take place from
January 28 to 30, 2025, in Lubbock,
Texas.
The 2025 TGWA Convention will
be hosted at the Lubbock Memorial
Civic Center and the MCM Eleganté
Hotel and Suites. Discounts for Early
Registration will end December 15,
2024. Visit tgwa.org/annual_conven
tion and the TGWA Facebook page for
the latest event updates.
This year’s convention has a Western
theme, so be sure to pack your cowboy
hats and boots!
Here’s what you can expect:
Continuing Education Classes
The TGWA Convention offers attend
ees the chance to earn up to 8 CE hours.
We’ve gathered the best experts to
teach a wide variety of CE classes.
The 2025 event will feature classes on
well design and pump fundamentals,
life-cycle cost analysis of water wells,
well
rehabilitation,
troubleshooting
submersible systems, TDLR rules and
statutes, creating a successful business,
introduction to pump tests, business fi
nancing, aquifers of Texas, and more.
Exhibit Hall
A highlight of the annual conven
tion is the exhibit hall, packed with
booths demonstrating the latest indus
try technology.
Be on the lookout for special give
aways during our exhibitor meet and
greet!
Division Meetings
The TGWA Convention will host
meetings of the Contractors and
Drillers Division, Manufacturers and
Suppliers Division, and Ground Water
Science Division, as well as a Board of
Directors meeting.
These meetings are an opportunity
for board members and TGWA mem
bers to stay updated on Association
news.
Awards Luncheon
Each year the Texas Groundwater
Association
recognizes
individual
members who have demonstrated a
commitment to excellence and have
contributed to growth of the water well
industry in Texas.
The awards luncheon on Thursday
will celebrate these individuals.
Scholarship Foundation Banquet
The TGWA Scholarship Foundation
awards scholarships to Texas under
graduate students who have a back
ground or interest in groundwater and
See LUBBOCK, page 19
Submit stories,
photos, and news to
tdavis@tgwa.org
Fountainhead
gets a new look
TGWA Fountainhead - Page 2
A MESSAGE FROM THE TGWA PRESIDENT
John Julian, TGWA President
Hello to all of you
fine TGWA members! I
hope everyone has had
a great summer, as well
as a profitable year.
Up here in the north
east Panhandle we are
having a nice fall —
the weather has been
great, not getting cold
as of yet and just lately,
we have been getting
much-needed rain.
They say time really
flies when you are hav
ing fun, and time seems
to go by faster each
year.
In
less
than
two
months my term as
your
President
of
TGWA will come to its
end, and it has been a
lot of fun. A big thank
you Tiffany Lange for
all the fun events you
have provided for all of
us.
I have learned more
than I could have ev
er imagined working
with a great Board of
Directors. I would like
to thank each of the
board
members
and
committee members for
their time and service
that each of them con
tributed to TGWA.
I feel like we have
made great progress for
our association in the
last two years, with the
hiring of our Executive
Director Bobby Bazan
and our communica
tions and outreach di
rector Theresa Davis,
as well as opening our
new office in Bryan,
Texas.
We’ve also been busy
reworking some of our
Bylaws,
writing
our
own employee hand
book, developing some
of the best committees
to tackle certain items,
working on building
up our membership,
and watching over our
financials to make sure
they are in good shape.
Still, a lot of things are
in the works for the up
coming year, including
a mapping system of
all the TGWA members
and what all servic
es each provides, de
veloping study guides
for Pump Installer &
Driller tests, and work
ing to bring all of the
groundwater
districts
together with the wa
ter
well
profession
als to fully understand
each other’s goals and
objectives.
I hope to see all of you
in Lubbock in January
at our annual conven
tion and trade show.
We have a full house
of vendors and one of
the best ever lineups of
CE classes (thank you,
Amy Bush).
Our Scholarship auc
tion
on
Wednesday
evening is always a
popular place to be;
so come bid on some
things you don’t real
ly need just because its
fun. We’ll also have the
trade show, awards din
ner, gun raffle, and a ca
sino night (and we will
even give you some $$$
to get you started). It’s
going to be fun.
Remember, we are al
ways looking for com
mittee members and
board
members,
so
contact Bobby and get
involved.
I would like to thank
each of you for your in
put, advice, and help
throughout this time.
We will see you on
down the road.
Association Staff
Bobby Bazan, Executive Director
Theresa Davis, Communications & Outreach Director
Front Cover:
A Russell Drilling rig is pictured at a water well drilling site
near Bastrop, Texas, on November 19, 2024. Theresa Davis
/ TGWA
Back Cover:
Well screens are pictured at a Russell Drilling project site
near Bastrop, Texas. Theresa Davis / TGWA
Official Publication of the
Texas Groundwater Association
401 N Main St, Suite 114
Bryan, Texas 77803
Phone: 512-472-7437
www.tgwa.org
John Julian, President
Chris Lange, Secretary
William McPike, Immediate Past President
TGWA Officers
Contractors & Drillers Division
2025
Jaythan Browning
Patrick Casarez
Ezequiel Cervantes
Brad Davis
Dake Jackson
Terry Lowe
Don McElroy
Bill Stoner
David Dennett
2026
J. Clark Abel
Jeff Brien
Josh Barrett
Dennis Kern
Chris Lange
William McPike
Alex Neely
2027
Pete Brien
Dale Felder
John Julian
Bill Lange
Mike Pyburn
Roger Russell
Robert Wagstaff
Manufacturers & Suppliers Division
2025
Rodney Ball
Bob Hill
Jim Jackson
Jason Yonce
2026
Justin Brisnahan
Robert Dilldine
Ruben Reyna
Vickie Ross
Jimmy Vela
2027
Weston Mitchell
Lacee Nivens
Eli Rodriguez
Jacob Strunk
Ground Water Science Division
2025
Amy Bush
Allan Standen
Rusty Tarver
2026
Mike Miller
Stefan Stamoulis
Kelley Cochran
John Waugh
2027
CJ Bennett
Billy Gamblin
Chase Crane
Looking back, looking forward
TGWA Fountainhead - Page 3
top of the rIg
Perspectives of Division Chairs
Josh Barrett
C&D Chair
Russell Drilling Co.
Michael Miller
GWS Chair
GeoCam, Inc.
Lacee Nivens
M&S Chair
Rex McFadden Co.
Do you learn something new ev
eryday? As cheesy as that sounds ...
This is a question that my grandfa
ther asked me one day when he was
teaching me to drive the forklift — I
think I was maybe 10! That has stuck
with me through my life and espe
cially in our water well industry!
There are so many new people that
have contacted me and others that
are a part of the association to ask
questions, which usually turns into
an educational conversation for both
parties. That is something that is our
goal; by talking to these custom
ers, business owners, or individuals
wanting a way into the groundwater
industry.
I have learned something new
about
the
industry
everyday.
Speaking to drillers while having
unfortunate issues on the phone or
speaking to someone about manu
facturing equipment has taught me
the value of the industry.
We are ALL in this together for
the positive side! We are adapting to
new equipment and ways daily in
the water well world, and this year
has been such an awesome breath of
fresh air with new activity and new
members!
We, as an association, are thank
ful to all members of TGWA and
look forward to an even better year
in 2025!! Don’t forget to come see us
in Lubbock! Everyone have a Blessed
and Merry Christmas!
Looking ahead
The Fall is going fast. I hope
everyone is able to spend time
with family over the upcoming
holidays. As the Chair of the
Bylaws Committee, thank you
to each committee member for
sacrificing your time and pro
viding wisdom and knowledge
to get the new bylaws revised.
The new TGWA bylaws passed
at the October meeting, effec
tive immediately.
I know that most of us are
making a push to the end of the
year. It feels like 2024 has flown
by and hopefully everyone has
had a safe and profitable year.
Each year during December
the NGWA holds its annual
convention. This year the con
vention will be in Las Vegas,
Nevada, and I look forward to
seeing some of you there.
In 2025 the TGWA convention
will be held in Lubbock, Texas,
and you will not want to miss
the opportunity to network and
see the products modeled by
vendors. Please consider join
ing us in Lubbock. If you need
more information, please reach
out to the TGWA office or visit
tgwa.org.
Never stop
learning
Ready for 2025
As we bring this year to a close, I
am reminded of all the hard work
and effort the members of this as
sociation have put into its contin
ued growth and success. It has been
a great two years serving with all of
you to accomplish some long-await
ed goals for this association.
I look forward to Lubbock in
January to kick off a new year with
new goals for us all. I will be present
ing a course at this year’s conven
tion on geophysics in groundwater
investigations. So, hope to see many
of you there, and bring your logs and
questions!
The Groundwater Science Division
has continued to grow, thanks in part
to the annual Geoscience Seminar.
It will be held May 2, 2025, at the
Washington County Expo Center.
The topics will be centered on the
Gulf Coast Region.
The line-up of speakers and pre
sentations is almost finalized, and
details are available at tgwa.org.
While there are usually 8 C.E. classes
approved for P.G.’s. The association
is working on approval for C.E. cred
its for Drillers and Pump Installers as
well.
My prayer is that all of us have
some time at the end of this year to
reflect and be thankful for all that we
have been given. I have said it before
and I will say it again: this industry
works hard to keep the water flow
ing, and I am thankful to be a small
part of that process.
Sincerely,
TGWA Fountainhead - Page 4
Theresa Davis, TGWA
The Texas Department of Licensing
and Regulation (TDLR) is reviewing
state rules for Water Well Drillers and
Water Well Pump Installers.
The state must review these rules ev
ery four years for re-adoption, revision,
or repeal.
Current rules cover everything from li
cense requirements to continuing educa
tion to technical standards about water
well completions.
TDLR asks these questions when re
viewing each rule:
1. Is it obsolete?
2. Does it reflect current legal and poli
cy considerations?
3. Is it in alignment with current proce
dures of the Department?
Current rules are under Title 16, Texas
Administrative Code, Chapter 76 and can
be viewed on the Texas Administrative
Code website.
The Texas Groundwater Association
is currently drafting recommendations
about the current rules to submit to
TDLR.
Russell Drilling
employees work on
a water well site
near Bastrop, Texas,
on Nov. 19, 2024.
THERESA DAVIS |
TGWA
See TDLR, page 13
TDLR reviewing state rules for water
well drillers and pump installers
TGWA Fountainhead - Page 4
TGWA Fountainhead - Page 5
TGWA Fountainhead - Page 6
TGWA Fountainhead - Page 7
How to measure drilling fluid density
From NGWA
Ron Peterson, Water Well
Journal Columnist
I would like to discuss the
primary drilling fluid prop
erties in depth in this and fu
ture columns in Water Well
Journal. We will start with
mud weight or drilling flu
id density. Density or mud
weight is one of the key prop
erties of a drilling fluid. It is
a measure of how heavy or
dense the drilling fluid is.
The testing equipment used
in testing drilling fluids is all
designed to meet specific
American Petroleum Institute
(API) specifications and stan
dards. The proper equipment
is available through your
drilling fluid vendor.
There are multiple options
for guidance in proper drill
ing fluid testing protocol.
You
can
get
training
through your drilling fluid
vendor and various drilling
fluid manufacturers.
You can even find educa
tional online videos in many
cases too.
Know When to Check
Checking the drilling fluid
properties on a regular basis
will help you know when you
have encountered a potential
problem and may need to
take corrective action.
Knowing when to take ac
tion — and what action to
take — can save you rig time,
the expense of potential hole
problems, and help minimize
well development issues.
Avoiding problems in the
first place is almost always
easier and less expensive than
taking corrective or remedial
measures to correct them.
When on a jobsite and dis
cussing problems, I frequent
ly will ask how heavy the
mud is. The contractor will
often say their drilling fluid
is very heavy. I will then ask
them how much it weighs,
and the reply I hear back is,
“I don’t know but it is very
thick.”
These are two totally differ
ent properties.
A drilling fluid can be any
thing that flows, lacks rigid
ity, has a low resistance to
force when applied to it, and
typically will assume the
shape of its container.
Fluids can be gases or liq
uids; we will discuss this in
more detail in a future col
umn. But for this discussion,
we will stick to air- and wa
ter-based fluids.
The lightest or least dense
fluid typically used in drill
ing is air, which has a densi
ty at sea level of about 0.0086
pounds per gallon which is
nearly 0. Water has a density
of 8.33 pounds per gallon.
Measuring Fluid Weight
Drilling fluid weight or
density is typically measured
with a mud balance. A mud
balance has four scales on
it that are typically used re
garding drilling fluid. Two of
the scales are on each side of
the balance beam.
Those scales are:
Pounds per gallon: The
most commonly used meth
od of reporting drilling fluid
weight.
Specific gravity: Also called
drilling fluid density.
Pounds per cubic foot:
Used in some areas and un
der some circumstances to
report drilling fluid weight;
however, it is not very com
monly used.
Pounds per square inch per
1000 feet of depth: An excel
lent way to determine the
hydrostatic pressure the drill
ing fluid exerts at any point in
the borehole.
To measure the drilling flu
id or mud weight:
Verify that the mud scale
is correct by weighing water
in it and verifying a weight
of water at 8.33 pounds per
gallon.
Remove the cap and fill the
cup on the end of the beam
with drilling fluid.
Replace the lid, taking
care to make sure some fluid
comes out of the small weep
hole in the center of the lid.
Wipe the entire balance off,
making sure it is dry.
Place the scale in the ful
crum that accompanies the
balance and move the slide as
necessary on the arm to make
sure the small bubble is in the
center of the sight glass on
the balance arm.
Reprinted from Water Well Journal courtesy the National
Ground Water Association © 2024.
Drilling fluid weight, along with funnel viscosity, can be used as an indicator of the quality of the drilling fluid.
THERESA DAVIS | TGWA
TGWA Fountainhead - Page 8
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Read the desired property from the
appropriate scale.
Water-based drilling fluid weights can
range from the weight of water at 8.33
pounds per gallon to a dense drilling
fluid at 21 pounds per gallon.
The Quality of the Fluid
Drilling fluid weight along with fun
nel viscosity (a topic for another column)
can be used as an indicator of the qual
ity of the drilling fluid. You can have a
viscous drilling fluid with a low mud
weight. It is possible to have a viscosity
of 50 to 60 seconds per quart with a mud
weight of only 8.5 pounds per gallon
with good quality bentonite or bentonite
and polymer- based fluid.
On the other hand, you can have a rel
atively high mud weight with a low vis
cosity fluid, which is usually a result of
entrained or incorporated drilled solids
with minimal to no high-quality benton
ite. The low viscosity/high mud weight
fluid will usually also have high filtrate
or fluid loss along with other adverse
properties that can lead to borehole is
sues and drilling problems.
In general, a lower drilling fluid
weight will result in a faster penetration
rate because the bit chips or cuttings can
come off the bottom of the hole faster,
cleaning the bottom of the hole so that
the bit will have better contact with the
bottom of the hole.
Thus, it can more easily generate new
cuttings. Larger cuttings are also more
easily removed on the surface, which
will help avoid drilling fluid weight in
crease. Drilling fluid weights increase as
the hole is advanced because the drill
cuttings are allowed to build up in the
drilling fluid. Drill cuttings from the for
mations drilled are the biggest contami
nant found in most drilling fluids.
Higher drilling fluid or mud weight
increases the hydrostatic pressure on
the bottom of the borehole. This creates
a phenomenon known as “chip hold
down” which makes it difficult to re
move the cuttings from the bottom of the
borehole and get them moving up and
out of the borehole.
The fastest penetration rates are typi
cally achieved with the lighter fluids.
The lightest fluids are air or gaseous
fluids.
Sometimes drilling fluid weights will
need to be increased to control pressures
encountered in the formation. If the
drilling fluid weight is high, make sure
it is by design and not inadvertent.
Increasing drilling fluid weight must
be done carefully. I have been on bore
holes where 0.02 pounds difference in
drilling fluid weight will be the differ
ence between controlling the downhole
pressure and losing returns. The cur
rent issue we have with overpumped,
depleted aquifers makes this even more
critical.
Excessive mud weights may also
cause problems with well development
and well production.
It comes down to knowing your drill
ing fluids. To control the drilling fluid
properties, be sure you use the correct
product for the drilling fluid property
that you are trying to achieve.
—
Ronald B. Peterson has been involved
with the drilling industry for more than
40 years. He previously worked for Baroid
Industrial Drilling Products and is now
with Mountainland Supply Co., a supply
company in Orem, Utah. He served as The
Groundwater
Foundation’s
McEllhiney
Lecturer in 2015 and was given NGWA’s
most prestigious award, the 2013 Ross L.
Oliver Award. He can be reached at peter
sonrb@msn.com.
TGWA Fountainhead - Page 9
2025 ANNUAL
CONVENTION
LuBock, TEXAS | JANUARY 28-30, 2025
Lubbock Memorial Civic Center | MCM Eleganté Hotel
continuing education claSes
exhibit haL
networking
casino night
awards luncheon
scholarship auction
REGISTER
NOW!
TGWA Fountainhead - Page 10
C.R.I. Fluid Systems USA LLC
sponsors
Diamond
Platinum
Custom Pipe
Goulds Water Technologies
Jerry's Bit Service
Pumps of Houston Inc.
Sun-Star Electric
SitePro
Brandon & Clark Inc
Geo Cam Inc
Kalas Wire and Cable
Baroid Industrial Drilling Products
Gold
Hole Products
Flomatic Valves
Wholesale Pump & Supply Inc.
AO Smith Water Treatment
WorldWide Drilling Resource
GRUNDFOS
C.R.I. Fluid Systems USA LLC
emerald
Texas Pipe Works
Gulf Coast Pump and Supply
SILVER
Cotey Chemical Corp.
King Oil Tools
J&B Industrial Services
Unitra, Inc
Webtrol Pumps
Terry Warren Enterprise
Dynotek
GEFCO
Well Scope LLC
Rolling Plains GCD
INSURICA
Vertical Flow Industries
Roscoe Moss Company
Amtrol
BRONZE
Service Wire
SME-USA
Snyder Industries
EKKI Water Technologies
P.W. Gillibrand
Alloy Machine Works
Northam Inc.
Covenant Sales
TGWA Fountainhead - Page 11
TGWA Fountainhead - Page 12
Theresa Davis, TGWA
The Texas Groundwater Association
hosted the Fall Board of Directors
Meeting and a Membership Meeting in
San Marcos on Saturday, November 2.
The TGWA Women’s Division hosted a
game night for board members.
Saturday’s meetings included amend
ments to the TGWA bylaws.
“Most of these changes were to
get us compliant with the Business
Organization Code for the state of
Texas,” said Bobby Bazan, TGWA
Executive Director. “One of those big
changes is changing our president-elect
to a secretary, in title only.”
The TGWA Executive Committee now
consists of the Immediate Past-President,
President, and Secretary (previously the
President-Elect officer position).
The changes rework the board of di
rectors by removing some C&D chap
ter director seats and adding seats to the
M&S division.
“The chapters used to be really ac
tive,” Bazan said. “... Over time a lot
of those chapters have closed or not re
mained active.”
The TGWA board will now consist of:
• 30 Contractors and Drillers members
• 15 Manufacturers and Suppliers
members
• 10 Groundwater Science members
The board also approved a Nomination
and Election policy.
To be eligible for election or appoint
ment to the TGWA Board of Directors,
an individual must meet the following
qualifications:
1. Membership Requirement: The
candidate must be a current mem
ber in good standing of the Texas
Groundwater Association, as defined by
the Association’s bylaws, and must have
been so for a minimum of 3 years prior to
the time of nomination or appointment.
2.
Committee
Participation
Requirement:
a. The candidate must have actively
participated as a member of at least one
standing committee for a minimum of 2
years prior to the time of nomination or
appointment.
b. Active participation is defined
as attending at least 50% of sched
uled committee meetings and fulfill
ing any assigned responsibilities or
tasks in a timely and effective manner,
as determined by the chairperson of the
committee.
c. Must have a current board member
or committee chair vouch for committee
participation.
3. Commitment to the Mission: The
candidate must demonstrate a commit
ment to the mission and values of the
Texas Groundwater Association, as evi
denced by their ongoing participation in
organizational activities, programs, or
events.
4. Skills and Expertise: The candidate
should possess skills or experience that
would contribute to the effective gov
ernance and strategic direction of the
Association. Preferred skills include, but
are not limited to, skills relevant to the
work of the Board of Directors.
The TGWA board may waive the com
mittee participation requirement based
on a candidate’s other qualifications or
experience.
The TGWA Nominating Committee
will verify that board candidates meet
the qualifications and will advance a
slate of candidates to each Division for
election.
Nominations
for
board
candi
dates may be submitted to the TGWA
Executive Director or any member of the
Nominating Committee by another cur
rent member in good standing or by the
nominee on the form provided by the
Association.
Board members whose term is expir
ing may seek reelection by expressing
their nomination vocally to the Executive
Director, Board President, or any mem
ber of the Nominating Committee.
All nominations must be submitted no
less than 30 days before the scheduled
Division meeting in which elections or
appointments will take place.
No nominations will be accept
ed from the floor. The nomination
form is available at www.tgwa.org/
board-of-directors.
Want to join a TGWA committee?
Have questions about how to nominate
yourself or someone else for a seat on
the Board of Directors? Contact execu
tive director Bobby Bazan at bbazan@
tgwa.org.
The next TGWA Board of Directors
meeting will be hosted in conjunction
with the Annual Convention in Lubbock
on Thursday, January 30, 2025.
TGWA adopts new bylaws during fall meeting
TGWA Executive Director Bobby Bazan and Board President John Julian speak to the TGWA Board at
the Fall meeting on November 2, 2024, in San Marcos. THERESA DAVIS | TGWA
TGWA Fountainhead - Page 13
These recommendations will include previous
ly proposed amendments that TGWA has submitted
to TDLR’s Water Well Drillers and Pump Installers
Advisory Council.
TGWA recommends that rule 76.25(b) be amended
to require the following continuing education require
ments for license renewals:
• one hour of instruction dedicated to ethics; and
• one hour of instruction dedicated to commercial
vehicle enforcement rules; and
• five hours of instruction in topics directly re
lated to the water well industry, including but
not limited to well and water well pump stan
dards, geologic characteristics of the state, state
groundwater laws and related regulations, well
construction and pump installation practices
and techniques, health and safety, environmen
tal protection, technological advances, or business
management.
TGWA also recommends that TDLR amend 76.25(c) to
increase apprentice registration renewal requirements
from 1 hour of CE courses annually to 4 hours.
The Texas Groundwater Association has proposed that
those 4 hours should include:
• one hour of instruction dedicated to the Water Well
Driller/Pump Installer statutes and rules; and
• one hour of instruction dedicated to commercial ve
hicle enforcement rules; and
• two hours of instruction in a topic directly related to
the water well industry
TGWA recommends that rule 76.25 also include lan
guage that requires continuing education hours of dedi
cated instruction to be completed in person.
Executive Director Bobby Bazan noted that TGWA
members indicated in a survey they find the interactive
nature of those in-person courses to be more worthwhile.
“We are also aligned with TDLR in the mission to en
sure a qualified professional workforce, and a lot of that
comes down to improving the quality of our education,”
Bazan said.
The Texas Groundwater Association welcomes mem
ber input as it formulates final recommendations about
these rules to TDLR.
Any suggested comments about Chapter 76 rules
should be submitted to bbazan@tgwa.org by Sunday,
December 15, 2024.
If you would like to submit comments to TDLR on
your own behalf or in support of the TGWA comments,
the deadline for submission is December 23, 2024.
Comments may be submitted electronically on the
Department’s website at https://ga.tdlr.texas.gov:1443/
form/gcerules (select the appropriate rule chapter name
for your comment).
TDLR, from page 4
TDLR teaches a
continuing education
class at the TGWA
Convention.
Water flows
from a pipe in
College Station,
Texas. THERESA
DAVIS | TGWA
TGWA Fountainhead - Page 14
New groundwater law remains unclear
Theresa Davis, TGWA
It’s no surprise that lo
cal governments are seek
ing more tools to manage
groundwater supplies in the
face of rapid development
across Texas.
To that end, Senate Bill
2440,
sponsored
by
Sen.
Charles Perry of Lubbock,
passed during Texas’ regu
lar legislative session in 2023.
The law went into effect on
January 1 of this year.
The
Texas
Commission
on Environmental Quality
(TCEQ) has taken the next
steps to implement this new
law.
According to TCEQ, the bill
itself mandates that munici
palities and counties require
groundwater availability cer
tification during application
and approval for proposed
subdivisions that will be
served by groundwater.
A licensed engineer or geo
scientist must prepare the
certification.
That certification was once
an optional checklist item for
local governments.
The ‘credible evidence’
debate
Appropriate
groundwa
ter management balances the
need for a stable water sup
ply with the protection of
private property rights and
business interests.
But part of the new law
has prompted concern from
TGWA and some of its
members.
The issue comes down to
a vague definition of what’s
needed for a local govern
ment to waive the certifica
tion requirement.
The
new
law
says
a
city or county must use
“credible evidence” of suf
ficient groundwater avail
ability “ in the vicinity of the
proposed subdivision” to de
termine there is enough wa
ter for that land now and in
the future.
Only then can the govern
ing body waive the need for
a groundwater availability
certification.
Concerns remain that the
new law’s “credible evidence”
language is ambiguous.
That ambiguity has the po
tential to cause liability issues
for contractors and drill
ers or groundwater industry
professionals who are asked
to make statements about
groundwater availability for
proposed projects.
TGWA recommended that
statements of “credible evi
dence”
about
groundwa
ter availability be addressed
by
a
local
Groundwater
Conservation District (GCD)
or
by
the
Texas
Water
Development Board in areas
without a GCD.
Several
groundwater
conservation
districts
and
management agencies sug
gested that “credible evi
dence”
should
include
aquifer tests or other data
from GCDs.
TCEQ adopted rules based
on the new law on November
20. The agency acknowl
edged the concerns during
the rulemaking process.
But the state agency said
the new law does not re
quire TCEQ to define waiv
er requirements or credible
evidence.
“The
platting
authority
must determine whether a
waiver is appropriate, includ
ing what constitutes credible
evidence,” TCEQ said.
TGWA Fountainhead - Page 15
Reports: Texas economy depends
on reliable water infrastructure
Geothermal Drilling Inc. employees work on a site in Gilmer, Texas, in October 2024.
THERESA DAVIS | TGWA
Theresa Davis, TGWA
Every day, millions
of Texans turn on their
faucets — thanks to a
drilling company who
completed their wa
ter well, a manufac
turing company who
made the well casings
and pump parts, and
a hydrogeologist who
mapped the ground
water
beneath
their
home.
TGWA is commit
ted to supporting our
industry and educat
ing others about its
importance.
A new report from
Center
for
Energy
Studies
at
Rice
University’s
Baker
Institute,
commis
sioned by the public
policy
organization
Texas
2036,
echoes
those values and out
lines the need for more
substantial
state
in
vestments
in
water
infrastructure.
“Water is not the
only key growth in
put to keep Texas at
tractive and increase
prosperity but it is a
necessary one,” the re
port
says.
“...Under
severe but short-term
water shortage condi
tions, groundwater is
the flywheel that keeps
Texas water supplies
balanced.”
The report says a
“Texas
water
infra
structure wave should
aspire” to have a state
wide focus on econom
ic growth and projects
that benefit more than
just one community or
company.
This
latest
docu
ment follows up on an
October report from
Texas 2036 about the
relationship
between
water
infrastructure
and the state’s econom
ic growth.
That report recom
mends that the Texas
legislature
dedicate
funding to building
out new water supplies
and improving existing
water infrastructure.
Texas 2036 policy an
alysts note that reliable
water
infrastructure
supports job growth
within the water indus
try and across the state.
“Reliable, consistent
state investment in wa
ter infrastructure pro
tects Texas’ Economic
Miracle while estab
lishing a strong foun
dation for continued
growth, development,
and prosperity,” that
report says.
To read the full re
ports, visit texas2036.
org.
TWCA is
now the
Texas Water
Association
The
Texas
Water
Conservation
Association was created in 1944, when
the term conservation was synony
mous with water supply. Over the last
80 years, TWCA’s mission has grown
to encompass all facets of water policy,
from drought to flood and everything
in between. Meanwhile, perceptions
of the word conservation, especially as
it relates to water, have changed and
narrowed over time, requiring regu
lar re-education on the scope of the
Association’s work.
While conservation in all contexts
continues to be a cornerstone of TWCA,
it is not the only qualifier for the work
we do. That’s why in October 2024, after
an extensive strategic planning process,
the TWCA Board of Directors voted to
begin doing business as the Texas Water
Association. Moving beyond the word
conservation in the Association’s name
will allow us to better serve our mem
bers under a banner that’s as big and
broad as we are. This updated name
better aligns with the strength and di
versity of our membership, enabling the
Association to continue to grow under a
name that reflects who we are today and
where we are headed.
Members can expect the same trusted
policy expertise, but with a refreshed
look and feel. Throughout these chang
es, we reaffirm our commitment to en
suring sound water policy for the state
of Texas, continuing the important work
we’ve been trusted with for over 80
years.
A Message from TWCA President
Wayne Owen: “The reason for a name
change is simple: our audience, includ
ing the legislature, their staff and public
agencies, are routinely confused by the
term “Water Conservation” and they do
not associate TWCA with our overarch
ing mission of facilitating good water
policy for the State of Texas.”
From TWA
TGWA Fountainhead - Page 16
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TGWA Fountainhead - Page 17
Theresa Davis joined the
TGWA staff as the new com
munication and outreach di
rector in October 2024.
Davis, who grew up in
the small town of Hunt in
the Texas Hill Country, has
worked for the last decade as
a journalist.
Theresa has written award-
winning articles for newspa
pers in Texas, New Mexico,
Wyoming and Utah.
She has long been drawn to
groundwater issues.
“There’s
that
old
say
ing that water is for fight
ing over,” Davis said. “But
I’ve seen how businesses,
conservationists, lawmakers
and residents can team up to
make the resource work for
everybody.”
For years, she covered an
ongoing groundwater law
suit between Texas and New
Mexico.
The legal back-and-forth
continues to impact farm
ers, ranchers, and water well
drillers across both states.
Davis also wrote about the
lingering damage of PFAS
groundwater
contamina
tion on farms and ranches in
southeast New Mexico.
“Water is the lifeblood of
these multi-generational op
erations, and when that’s
polluted, it’s absolutely dev
astating,” Davis said. “But
there’s a lot of innovative wa
ter technology in the works
to clean up these ‘forever
chemicals.’”
Davis has written exten
sively about aquifer storage
and recovery projects and
injection and reuse of pro
duced water in the oil field.
In New Braunfels, she
wrote
about
groundwater
management in an area that is
experiencing explosive popu
lation growth and a boom in
water infrastructure projects.
“Water education is more
important than ever in Texas,”
Davis said. “Many new resi
dents have never lived on
land with a water well.”
Davis feels lucky to have
been a “boots on the ground”
journalist. For her work,
she has hiked along the Rio
Grande, flown in a hot air
balloon, and followed wild
fire hotshot crews.
She is eager to help TGWA
grow and continue its mission
of supporting and promoting
the water well industry.
Davis is a graduate of
Brigham Young University.
In her free time, she likes to
explore Texas with her cattle
dog named Wayne.
TGWA welcomes new
communications and
outreach director
Theresa Davis is pictured on a fish stocking trip on the Guadalupe River
earlier this year. Davis recently joined the TGWA staff as the communications
and outreach director. PHOTO BY BLAINE YOUNG
TGWA Fountainhead - Page 18
Theresa Davis, TGWA
The Texas Railroad Commission has
proposed new rules regarding shallow
closed-loop geothermal systems.
A recently-passed state law trans
ferred regulatory authority of these sys
tems from the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to the
RRC.
To learn how the shift could impact
the groundwater industry, TGWA visit
ed a geothermal project site in October at
the historic Upshur County Courthouse
in Gilmer, Texas.
On site with TGWA staff were William
McPike (TGWA board past-president
and president of Geothermal Drilling
Inc. and McPike Water Wells), Looptech
Geothermal president Mike Tolle, RRC
Critical Infrastructure Division director
Jared Ware, and IEG geothermal design
director Howard Newton.
The visit was an opportunity to share
with a state agency representative
about these systems and how certain
regulations would or would not benefit
the industry and the public.
The Texas Railroad Commission is
currently in the rulemaking process to
abide with the new law.
This fall, TGWA staff worked with
association members and geothermal
groups to weigh in on the state agency’s
proposals.
TGWA
executive
director
Bobby
Bazan went to Austin to meet again with
RRC Critical Infrastructure Division di
rector Jared Ware. TGWA also sought in
put from members to help formulate our
recommendations.
TGWA notes that the RRC might
be limited in its ability to make some
changes to the state law’s definition of
a shallow closed-loop geothermal injec
tion well.
“We feel it is important to note that
the intended regulated borehole is uti
lized as a thermal energy exchange and
at no time is water, other fluids, or gas
es injected or extracted from any below
surface formations,” TGWA wrote in
comments submitted to the RRC.
TGWA recommends that communica
tion continues with the state legislature
to improve the definitions by using in
dustry nomenclature (ground source
heat pump borehole) and eliminating
misconceptions and confusion with in
jection wells intended for geothermal
power generation.
TGWA also recommends that the op
eration of these systems be exempt from
completing Organization Report Form
P-5.
We have proposed replacing the word
geothermal in some of the RRC rules
with “Ground Source Heat Pump” to
better describe the process occurring
within these systems.
In the event that is not possible, due
to language in Senate Bill 786, we would
also suggest “geothermal heat injection
well.”
TGWA also suggests that deliver a
best practices guideline for this particu
lar industry. To read the full TGWA com
ments, visit tgwa.org.
Geoscience Seminar
MAY 2,
2025
Brenham,
Texas
tgwa.org
TGWA weighs in on geothermal changes
Texas Railroad Commission Critical Infrastructure Division director Jared Ware; IEG geothermal design
director Howard Newton; and TGWA executive director Bobby Bazan examine a geothermal bore
hole at the Upshur County Courthouse in Gilmer on Oct. 3, 2024. THERESA DAVIS | TGWA
Looptech Geothermal president Mike Tolle and
McPike Water Wells president William McPike
examine geothermal bore hole plans at the
Upshur County Courthouse in Gilmer on Oct. 3,
2024. THERESA DAVIS | TGWA
TGWA Fountainhead - Page 19
TGWA board members and their families celebrate a game night win before the Fall TGWA
Board Meeting in San Marcos on November 1. THERESA DAVIS | TGWA
• Aaron Dretel
• Alan Cate
• Anthony Alvarez
• AO Smith Water Systems
• A&W Water Well Service
• Blake Sargent
• Blanco Pedernales GCD
• BoreTek, LLC
• Chad Brunson
• Chad Szutz
• Cody Draper
• Danny Gregg
• Elite Drillers Services Corporation
• Emma Amana
• Fayette County GCD
• Kamalanathan Sachithanandam
• Ken Grant
• KT Groundwater
• Matthew Willoughby
• Maverick Water Group, LLC
• Mikel Kirby
• Monica Alaniz
• Pecos River Services, LLC
• Robby Goolsby
• Rolling Plains GCD
• Sam’s Pump And Pure Water, LLC
• SCS Engineers
• Thomas Demchuk
• Thunder Well Service, LLC
• Tiffany Hollis
• Will Hudgens
the water well drilling industry. These financial awards are made
possible by the annual Foundation auction and raffle. Stay tuned for
details on the 2025 Auction items. The 2025 raffle items include 20
different guns (plus a crossbow), and gift cards ranging from $250 to
$1500. Raffle tickets cost $30 each, or 4 for $100.
To buy a raffle ticket, call the TGWA office at (512) 472-7437 or con
tact a board member.
Casino Night
The fun’s not over after the CE classes end and the Exhibit Hall
booths close! TGWA Convention attendees will have a chance to kick
their feet up at a Casino Night presented by Simmons and SIMFLO.
The event will feature games, food, live music and prizes.
Women’s Division
The TGWA Women’s Division will host a meeting and luncheon
event on Wednesday, January 29, at the Cotton Court Hotel in
Lubbock. The event will have a Dolly Parton theme!
The Women’s Division will also host a Heads & Tails game during
the Scholarship Foundation Auction. That game will raise money to
purchase copies of “Mr. Mouse Gets a New Water Well” for Texas
schools.
See y’all in Lubbock!
LUBBOCK, from page 1
IN 2024
TGWA Fountainhead - Page 19
TGWA family fun