The West Central Texas Municipal Water District was created by an act of the Texas State Legislature in March, 1955, with four member cities--Abilene, Albany, Anson, and Breckenridge. Construction of the

End_Page 169------------------------------

Hubbard Creek Reservoir began in 1962. A single U.S.G.S. hydrologic station below the present damsite indicated that water acceptable by U.S.P.H.S. standards would be impounded. However, an increase in chloride load was noted beginning in 1958 and continuing into 1961. Consultants were employed to ascertain the source of the contamination, inasmuch as the watershed is located in one of the most intensively drilled areas in the nation, with more than 13,000 known holes. The consultants' report, submitted in May, 1962, established that the watershed was naturally clean and that contamination originated primarily from salt water disposal pits, improperly plugged wells, and water escaping to the surface as a result of repressuring by waterfloods.

Remedial work, including plugging leaking wells, a no-pit order for the watershed by the Texas Railroad Commission effective March 1, 1964, the establishment of additional U.S.G.S. hydrologic stations, and a general clean-up by the oil industry significantly reduced the chlorides reaching the reservoir. These remedial measures, however, were insufficient to reduce chlorides entering the reservoir to less than 50 ppm.

A second intensive study was submitted by the consultants in January, 1966, and isolated eight remaining contaminated areas. This study also recognized salt-water charged alluvium as an important source of contamination. These findings were supported by U.S.G.S. data. It was found that 4 per cent of the watershed area contributed up to 40 percent of the total chloride load reaching the reservoir. This area, just west of the city of Albany, Texas, contains numerous shallow waterfloods and very old production dating to the 1900s. As a result of continuing pollution originating here, the Railroad Commission held a "show cause" hearing in Albany in August, 1966, during which operators were given an opportunity to show cause why offending leases should not be shut down.

The results of the consultants' contamination studies in this watershed emphasize that geological responsibility today goes far beyond the search for petroleum reserves. Geologists must be prepared to point out unmistakably to their employers and clients the many potential hazards that lie ahead--perhaps many years ahead--as a result of poor completion practices. These matters are of concern to the geological profession and should be considered definite geological responsibilities whose importance will increase in years to come.

End_of_Article - Last_Page 170------------