Lake Waco Comprehensive Study: Background and overview

Abstract

As a water supply, Lake Waco, Texas, is subject to the provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act and related regulations. Aside from concern over primary contaminants that affect human health, there have been taste and odor incidents of increasing frequency, duration and severity over the last decade; therefore, this comprehensive study was developed to define historical and existing water quality conditions and to project possible management scenarios. Practical management approaches to maintain or improve existing water quality conditions within the lake and immediate watershed were identified and evaluated for implementation. The declining water quality within the lake necessitated the construction of an additional treatment process at a cost of $40 million to facilitate compliance with newer drinking water regulations. The investigators sought to assess the magnitude and relative size of water and nutrient contributions to Lake Waco, allowing assessment of loading in relation to acceptable levels for maintaining desired conditions in the reservoir. Thirty-five specific tasks (studies) were conducted concurrently, investigating specific issues or mechanisms of interest in relation to the lake, its watershed and its users. The majority of the $2 million study cost was provided by the City of Waco, although the US Army Corps of Engineers, US Environmental Protection Agency, US Geological Survey, and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department made important contributions to the study.