Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation's (TDLR) Submitted Driller's Report Database. This database contains water well reports submitted to TDLR from February 2001 to present.

This dataset documents depth to groundwater measurements made from wells screened in the Chicot aquifer, Evangeline aquifer, Jasper aquifer, Burkeville confining unit, Catahoula confining unit, or a combination of these hydrogeologic units in the greater Houston area, Texas for 2024. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) prepared this dataset in cooperation with the Harris‐Galveston Subsidence District, City of Houston, Fort Bend Subsidence District, Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District, and Brazoria County Groundwater Conservation District. This dataset was created to provide resource managers, public officials, researchers, and the public with ready access to information regarding depths to groundwater in the region. The data in this dataset were collected from December 2023 through March 2024 and, with the exception water-level data provided by private corporations and the calculated median values provided only herein, are stored in the USGS National Water Information System (NWIS), a publicly available, searchable, online database of water information (USGS, 2024).

Texas Water Development Board’s (TWDB) Groundwater Database. This database contains information on selected water wells, springs, oil/gas tests, water levels and water quality. Brackish Groundwater.Website Link: https://www.twdb.texas.gov/groundwater/

An extensive archive containing more than 10,000 historical (1918–2020) geophysical logs collected in conjunction with studies done by various entities and more than 2,000 additional donated well and geophysical logs are stored in hard-copy at the Central Texas Branch of the Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center (OTWSC) in Austin, Texas. This dataset addresses the need to preserve these records electronically by providing a scanned and indexed collection of 11,171 of these records. Data are provided as a comma-separated value (CSV) text file and a Microsoft Access database in ACCDB format containing detailed well header information for each record. Also included are zipped files containing the geophysical log scans in Portable Document Format (PDF).The original dataset was published in January 2024, and revised in September 2024. This revision incorporates 5,113 additional log scans and header information into the original dataset containing 6,058 logs scans and header information. ...

The Brackish Resources Aquifer Characterization System (BRACS) Database stores well and geology information to help characterize the brackish groundwater resources of Texas. This database contains all types of wells (not just brackish water wells) including those in fresh water zones with linked geophysical well logs, aquifer test information, lithology and stratigraphic picks. Website Link: https://www.twdb.texas.gov/innovativewater/bracs/projects/HB30_Gulf_Coast/index.asp

Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation's (TDLR) Submitted Driller's Report Database. This database contains plugged water well reports submitted to TDLR from February 2001 to present.Website Link: http://www.twdb.texas.gov/groundwater/data/drillersdb.asp

This data release contains compiled historical groundwater-withdrawal data for the Coastal Lowlands aquifer system in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida from 1925 to 2018. Most groundwater-withdrawals were distributed to groundwater wells and separated into water-use categories of industrial, production well, power generation, mining, domestic, irrigation, livestock or commercial. Groundwater-withdrawal data were obtained, where available, from existing database resources hosted by various State and Federal agencies. For Texas, data were obtained from the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) from both existing Groundwater-Availability Models (GAM), and from historical groundwater-withdrawal data. For Louisiana data were obtained from the U.S. Geological Survey Lower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana office. For Mississippi data were obtained from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, and from the U.S. Geological Survey Lower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center, Jackson, Mississippi. For Alabama data were obtained from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, Office of Water Resources, and from the U.S. Geological Survey Lower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center, Montgomery, Alabama office. For Florida data were obtained from the U.S. Geological Survey Caribbean-Florida Water Science Center, Lutz and Orlando Florida offices.

These layers contain Public Water Supply sites in the State of Texas. The locations were obtained by the Water Supply Division as recorded from various sources and built using the best existing location data available from these sources. Although some location errors were found and corrected in the process, some errors still remain. As resources allow, TCEQ intends to improve the accuracy of these locations to meet the standards set forth in the agency's Positional Data Policy.This layer was developed to support the TCEQ's Source Water Assessment and Protection Program (SWAP).

• Global Groundwater Levels - Annual groundwater level data described in the following publication: Jasechko, S. Seybold, H.S., Perrone, D., Fan, Y., Shamsudduha, M., Taylor, R.G., Fallatah, O., Kirchner, J.W. Rapid groundwater decline and some cases of recovery in aquifers globally. Nature, doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06879-8 (2024). Annual groundwater level data are available in cases where we have received permission from a database manager to post annual groundwater level data. These two .csv files contain annual groundwater level data for Afghanistan, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, Yukon), China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Guam, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Poland, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States (Groundwater Ambient Monitoring and Assessment Program, US Geological Survey's (USGS) National Water Information System, and the Texas Water Development Board).

File 1 of 2 entitled "AnnualDepthToGroundwater.csv" "StnID" - unique number for the monitoring well "Lat" - latitude of the monitoring well (in some cases this may be an approximation) "Lon" - latitude of the monitoring well (in some cases this may be an approximation) "IntegerYear" - calendar year "DepthToWater_m" - annual median depth to groundwater (units of metres below reference point and/or groundwater surface)

File 2 of 2 entitled "AnnualGroundwaterElevation.csv" "StnID" - unique number for the monitoring well "Lat" - latitude of the monitoring well (in some cases this may be an approximation) "Lon" - latitude of the monitoring well (in some cases this may be an approximation) "IntegerYear" - calendar year "GroundwaterElevation_masl" - annual median groundwater elevation (units of metres above sea level)

This material is based on work supported by the National Science Foundation under grant nos. EAR-2048227 and EAR-2234213. This research was supported by funding from the Zegar Family Foundation. This material is based on work supported by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) through the California Institute for Water Resources (CIWR) under grant/cooperative agreement no. G21AP10611-00. The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the opinions or policies of the USGS/CIWR. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute their endorsement by the USGS/CIWR. R.G.T. acknowledges the support of a fellowship (ref. 7040464) from the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research under the Earth 4D programme. S.J. acknowledges the Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve (https://doi.org/10.25497/D7159W ), the Point Conception Institute and the Nature Conservancy for their support of this research.

For a related database of global aquifer system boundaries see: https://www.hydroshare.org/resource/73834f47b8b5459a8db4c999e6e3fef6/

Water-resources data for the 2004 water year for Texas are presented in six volumes, and consist of records of stage, discharge, and water quality of streams and canals; stage, contents, and water-quality of lakes and reservoirs; and water levels and water quality of ground-water wells. Volume 2 contains records for water discharge at 54 gaging stations; stage only at 4 gaging stations; elevation at 17 lakes and reservoirs; content at 8 lakes and reservoirs; and water quality at 22 gaging stations. Also included are data for 2 partial-record stations comprised of 1 flood-hydrograph and 1 crest-stage station. Also included are lists of discontinued surface-water discharge or stage-only stations and discontinued surface-water-quality stations. Additional water data were collected at various sites, not part of the systematic data-collection program, and are published as miscellaneous measurements. These data represent that part of the National Water Data System operated by the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating Federal, State, and local agencies in Texas. Records for a few pertinent stations in the bordering States also are included.

This dataset documents the depth to groundwater measured in wells screened in the Chicot, Evangeline, and Jasper aquifers in the Houston‐Galveston region, Texas for 2020. The U.S. Geological Survey prepared this dataset in cooperation with the Harris‐Galveston Subsidence District, City of Houston, Fort Bend Subsidence District, Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District, and Brazoria County Groundwater Conservation District. This dataset was created to provide resource managers, public officials, researchers, and the general public with ready access to information regarding depths to groundwater in the region. All of the data in this dataset were collected from December 2019 through March 2020 and are stored in the National Water Information System (NWIS), a publicly available, searchable, online database of water information (http://dx.doi.org/10.5066/F7P55KJN). These digital data accompany a U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigation Report by Braun and Ramage (2020).

This dataset documents depth to groundwater measurements made from wells screened in the Chicot aquifer, Evangeline aquifer, Jasper aquifer, Burkeville confining unit, Catahoula confining unit, or a combination of these hydrogeologic units in the greater Houston area, Texas for 2022. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) prepared this dataset in cooperation with the Harris‐Galveston Subsidence District, City of Houston, Fort Bend Subsidence District, Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District, and Brazoria County Groundwater Conservation District. This dataset was created to provide resource managers, public officials, researchers, and the general public with ready access to information regarding depths to groundwater in the region. All of the data in this dataset were collected from November 2021 through March 2022 and are stored in the USGS National Water Information System (NWIS), a publicly available, searchable, online database of water information (USGS, 2022). These digital da ...

This dataset documents the depth to groundwater measured in wells screened in the Chicot, Evangeline, and Jasper aquifers in the Houston‐Galveston region, Texas for 2019. The U.S. Geological Survey prepared this dataset in cooperation with the Harris‐Galveston Subsidence District, City of Houston, Fort Bend Subsidence District, Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District, and Brazoria County Groundwater Conservation District. This dataset was created to provide resource managers, public officials, researchers, and the general public with ready access to information regarding depths to groundwater in the region. All of the data in this dataset were collected from December 2018 through March 2019 and are stored in the National Water Information System (NWIS), a publicly available, searchable, online database of water information (http://dx.doi.org/10.5066/F7P55KJN).

The U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Harris‐Galveston Subsidence District, City of Houston, Fort Bend Subsidence District, and Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District has produced this dataset of water‐level altitudes and water‐level changes in the Chicot, Evangeline, and Jasper aquifers in the Houston‐Galveston region, Texas.This dataset shows current‐year (2015-2016) water‐level altitudes for each aquifer, 5‐year (2011‐16) water‐level changes for each aquifer, long‐term (1990‐2016 and 1977‐2016) water‐level changes for the Chicot and Evangeline aquifers, and long‐term (2000‐2016) water‐level change for the Jasper aquifer. For the 1‐year (2015-16) water‐level changes, data were computed as the difference in water‐level altitude at each point (well) for which a water‐level measurement was made in 2015 and 2016. Five‐year (2011‐16) water‐level changes were computed the same as for the 1‐year water-level changes; the difference in water‐level altitude at each point for which a water‐level measurement was made in 2011 and 2016. The water‐level measurements in the dataset are built upon and stored in the National Water Information System: Web Interface, groundwater information, field measurements website located here: http://dx.doi.org/10.5066/F7P55KJN This site is a publicly available, searchable, online database of water information.

Link to the ScienceBase Item Summary page for the item described by this metadata record. Service Protocol: Link to the ScienceBase Item Summary page for the item described by this metadata record. Application Profile: Web Browser. Link Function: information

This dataset documents for 2018 the depth to groundwater measured in wells screened in the Chicot, Evangeline, and Jasper aquifers in the Houston‐Galveston region, Texas. The U.S. Geological Survey prepared this dataset in cooperation with the Harris‐Galveston Subsidence District, City of Houston, Fort Bend Subsidence District, and Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District. This dataset was created to provide resource managers, public officials, researchers, and the general public with ready access to accurate, impartial, scientific information regarding the depth to groundwater in the region. All of the data in this dataset were collected from December 2017 through March 2018 and are stored in the National Water Information System (NWIS), a publicly available, searchable, online database of water information (http://dx.doi.org/10.5066/F7P55KJN).

The Edwards and Trinity aquifers are major sources of water in south-central Texas and are both classified as major aquifers by the State of Texas. The population in Hays and Comal Counties is rapidly growing, increasing demands on the area's water resources. To help effectively manage the water resources in the area, refined maps and descriptions of the geologic structures and hydrostratigraphic units (HSUs) of the aquifers are needed. This digital map database presents the detailed 1:24,000-scale bedrock hydrostratigraphic map as well as names and descriptions of the geologic and hydrostratigraphic units of the Driftwood and Wimberley 7.5-minute quadrangles in Hays and Comal Counties, Tex.

In situ recovery (ISR) uranium mining is a technique in which uranium is extracted by a series of injection and recovery wells developed in a permeable sandstone host rock. Chemical constituents (lixiviants) are added to groundwater injection wells to mobilize uranium into groundwater. Before mining, baseline water quality is measured by sampling groundwater from the aquifer intended to be mined and over and underlying units over a geographic area that reflects the proposed mine location. After mining, groundwater is restored using a variety of techniques intended to return groundwater quality to as close to baseline as practicable. After groundwater has been restored, groundwater quality is monitored to determine if the groundwater chemistry has stabilized. The impact of ISR mining on groundwater is poorly understood because records archiving these impacts are difficult to locate. The USGS collected as many historic records describing ISR well fields as they could locate between 2008 and 2014. This data release summarizes historic records from ISR mines developed in Texas and compiled into spreadsheets by USGS mostly from records maintained by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

description: The U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District, City of Houston, Fort Bend Subsidence District, and Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District created this dataset that provides water level measurements, altitudes, and changes in water-level altitudes in the Chicot, Evangeline, and Jasper aquifers in the Houston Galveston region, Texas. The dataset shows current-year (2016-17) water-level altitudes, depth to water, and 1-year (2016-17) water-level changes of select wells screened in the Chicot, Jasper, or Evangeline aquifers. The water level measurements in the dataset are built upon and stored in the National Water Information System: Web Interface, groundwater information, field measurements site located here: http://dx.doi.org/10.5066/F7P55KJN. This site is a publicly available, searchable, online database of water information.; abstract: The U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District, City of Houston, Fort Bend Subsidence District, and Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District created this dataset that provides water level measurements, altitudes, and changes in water-level altitudes in the Chicot, Evangeline, and Jasper aquifers in the Houston Galveston region, Texas. The dataset shows current-year (2016-17) water-level altitudes, depth to water, and 1-year (2016-17) water-level changes of select wells screened in the Chicot, Jasper, or Evangeline aquifers. The water level measurements in the dataset are built upon and stored in the National Water Information System: Web Interface, groundwater information, field measurements site located here: http://dx.doi.org/10.5066/F7P55KJN. This site is a publicly available, searchable, online database of water information.

For a recent Inside Climate News investigation, Martha Pskowski and Peter Aldhous wrangled data on 10,000+ wastewater spills reported by oil and gas companies to the Texas government between 2013 and 2022. These “spill logs” — obtained through public records requests, then cleaned and standardized by the journalists — correspond to more than 148 million gallons of “produced water,” a byproduct of drilling and fracking. The data indicate each spill’s date, location, facility, operator, type of operation, volume of wastewater released, volume recovered, and much more.

Spills of produced water by the Texas oil and gas industry from 2013 to 2022

Data and R code for the analysis underlying this Inside Climate News article, analyzing a decade of spills in Texas of produced water — which emerges from wells along with crude oil and gas during fossil fuel extraction.

Data cleaning/processing

Records of these spills are maintained by the Texas Railroad Commission, which regulates the state's oil and gas industry, in spreadsheets it calls “spill logs.” Through public records requests, we obtained logs held centrally by the Railroad Commission, and those held by the commission's individual district offices throughout the state.

The data required extensive cleaning in R, OpenRefine, and Google Sheets to diagnose and fix problems including incorrectly entered dates, inconsistent units for volume, misaligned columns, duplicated entries, and multiple variants of company names, which we standardized for the largest operators. The centrally-held logs were maintained in spreadsheets with individual sheets or tabs named by month and year, allowing us to assign a month and year to any spills lacking a spill date.

Where volumes of produced water were given as greater than or less than a particular value, we used that value. Where a range was given, we used the midpoint of that range. In a small number of cases in which the volume of water recovered was shown as greater than the volume released, we corrected the volume recovered to equal the volume released. We multiplied all volumes given in barrels by 42 to give volumes in U.S. gallons, used for our analysis.

The spill logs documented releases of crude oil, condensates (hydrocarbons with a density less than that of crude oil), natural gas, and produced water, with some records involving spills of more than one substance simultaneously. For our analysis of spills of produced water, we filtered to remove records with no entry for the volume of produced water released, or with a value of zero, and to remove any spills that occured before or after the calendar years 2013 to 2022.

The cleaned and filtered data is in the two data input files described below.

Analysis

Our analysis of the number and volume of releases of produced water based on the spill logs held centrally by the Railroad Commission is given here and in the file tx-spills-central.Rmd. A corresponding analysis for the logs held by commission's district offices is here and in the file tx-spills-district.Rmd.

Other files/folders

• data Input data files:

  • central_cleaned.csv Cleaned and filtered data on releases of produced water processed from the spill logs held centrally by the Texas Railroad Commission.
  • district_cleaned.csv Cleaned and filtered data on releases of produced water processed from the spill logs held by individual Railroad Commission district offices.

• discrepancies.R Script used to find spills that seemed to be present in either the central- or district-level spill logs only, based on matching by Railroad Commission district and RRC job number/notification number. The largest of these spills were scrutinized manually against the original spreadsheet files to identify genuine mismatches between the two sets of logs.

Questions/Feedback

Email Peter Aldhous at peter.aldhous@insideclimatenews.org.