The Texas Water Journal has published the first article in Volume 12 titled, Best Management Practices for Firefighting in the Karstic Edwards Aquifer of South-Central Texas, by Geary M. Schindel and Rudolph A. Rosen.
Karst aquifers are vulnerable to contamination from hazardous pollutants that can harm drinking water supplies, species inhabiting aquifers and springs, and other karst water resources, according to the abstract.
This paper presents best management practices designed for use by first responders and for use in developing training curricula and tools to assist first responders in protecting karst water resources.
Training and tools based on the best management practices will help first responders prevent or reduce runoff of potentially hazardous materials that can rapidly enter an aquifer during firefighting and other responses to emergencies in locations where hazardous materials are stored, such as in retail centers, warehouses, industrial and agricultural facilities, and in vehicles and rail cars along transportation corridors. Emergencies can include fire caused by accident or arson, terrorist attack, flood, high wind, lightning, and explosion in structures and transport vehicles.
The journal — an online, peer-reviewed journal published by the nonprofit The Texas Water Journal and the Texas Water Resources Institute — publishes papers as they are completed. It is devoted to the timely consideration of Texas water resources management, research and policy issues from a multidisciplinary perspective that integrates science, engineering, law, planning and other disciplines. It also provides updates on key state legislation and policy changes by Texas administrative agencies.
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