exTRA by the Trinity River Authority of Texas

The water-sharing systems between Mexico and the U.S. face one of the biggest tests in their 80-year history after Mexico fell behind on billions of gallons of water deliveries.

The lack of water from either rainfall or irrigation earlier in the year made it necessary for many corn producers in South Texas to plow under dried-out fields.

San Antonio Metropolitan Health District, the Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance and northwest Bexar County landowner Ann Toepperwein persuaded the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to grant a contested case hearing on the proposed Guajolote Ranch development. The groups succeeded Wednesday morning when the San Antonio Water System and the cities of Helotes and Grey Forest failed after the state commission denied their request.

Most western North Texas counties are under burn bans at the moment. In addition, a few central North Texas counties are under bans as well.

A multitude of dead fish have washed up at Calaveras Lake on Tuesday morning. According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the incident is likely due to low oxygen levels from the current high temperatures.

Elon Musk’s SpaceX violated environmental regulations by repeatedly releasing pollutants into or near bodies of water in Texas, a state agency said in a notice of violation focused on the company’s water deluge system at its Starbase launch facility. The notice from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) last week came five months after the Environmental Protection Agency Region 6 office, which covers Texas and surrounding states, had also informed SpaceX that it violated the Clean Water Act with the same type of activity.

EPWater will no longer have to pay a $1.2 million fine and has been cleared of any wrongdoing stemming from the 2021 Frontera Wastewater Emergency. In August 2021, a series of pipelines located near Sunland Park Drive and Doniphan Drive -- known as the Frontera Force Mains -- ruptured, resulting in upwards of 10 million gallons of wastewater being pumped into the Rio Grande every day for five months, something NMED called a "catastrophic failure."

The largest protein ever found in biology has been discovered in a species of marine algae. Dubbed the 'Mount Everest' of proteins, it plays a significant role in the death of fish during algal blooms.

Officials are proposing an $18 million general fund budget coming with a “robust” $16.8 million fund balance while planning to launch a five-year series of water rate hikes aimed at pulling the utility system out of the red while helping to pay off long-term debt tied to the new water plant.

The City of Montgomery is asking residents to conserve water after one of the city's wells broke last week. There has yet to be a timeline for when it will be operational again. The incident is the second consecutive year the city has had to deal with such an issue, according to the city's website.

Crews in Bee Cave have repaired a major water main break but continue to work on filling a large hole left in its wake, city officials reported Wednesday. The break occurred at the intersection of Falconhead Boulevard and Myrtle Beach Road, prompting road closures and water service interruptions for nearby residents. 

Texas Parks and Wildlife officials say the Texas State Fish, the Guadalupe Bass, has made a comeback to San Antonio. 

The city of Round Rock is looking to recoup funds from Verizon after it discovered that a fiber line was inadvertently drilled through the top of an 84-inch pipe two years ago. 

Action on new recommended rates may occur as soon as Aug. 27, but the changes would not take effect until Jan. 1, 2025. The average combined residential water and wastewater bill would increase by $1.71 monthly if the Fort Worth City Council approves the proposed rate changes.

This week we are expecting a long stretch of triple-digit days in North Texas. Our hottest temperature so far this summer (103) could be challenged by the weekend.

A majority of states in the U.S. have detected "very high" levels of COVID-19 in their wastewater, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As of August 8, these levels have been detected in 27 states, marking the first time that a majority of states have "very high" levels.

The town’s troubles started in 2018, when its water tested positive for the dangerous E.coli bacteria.

A vibrant and potentially destructive non-native fish was recently caught in Texas for the first time, wildlife officials warn. The invasive fish, a hybrid peacock cichlid, was pulled out of the South Fork San Gabriel River, near Leander, the state Parks and Wildlife Department said in an Aug. 9 Facebook post. Leander is a roughly 25-mile drive northwest from Austin.

As we move into this dry season that is very typical for us this time of year, let’s take a good look into watering basics for your landscape.

As part of the proposed budget, residents can also expect increases to their utility bills. Budget Officer Bob Clymire said there are planned 3% increases for water and sewer service because of increasing cost from the city’s utility providers, including the North Texas Municipal Water District.