Are  Failing OSSF's causing pollution and damaging the water quality of Canyon Lake?  

            "...based on these two decades of data, there does not appear to be a decline in water quality.  If anything, the (water quality) data from the 1990's are somewhat better than those from the 1980's..."

            "Based on there being no indication of a present water quality problem or a negative trend in the lake, and on the absence of strong indications of problems with existing septic systems around the lake, the project did not invest major resources in looking at providing wastewater treatment for existing development."

            "Comal County should be commended for implementing the (order) to protect downstream homeowners from flooding caused by development...To further affect water quality, upstream counties could institute the same (requirements) put forth for Comal County."

    Is The hydrogen sulfide (rotten eggs) smell at the Canyon Lake outlet works caused by sewage plant as well as failing OSSF's?

                        The presence of a "rotten eggs" odor at the outlet works is a natural phenomenon.  Canyon Lake naturally stratifies during the summer months.  This stratification or layering causes dissolved oxygen levels to decease in the lower levels.  Natural materials such as leaves, trees, and other organic material decompose and create elevated levels of hydrogen sulfide.  As you know, the outlet works of the dam is located at the lowest level of the lake.  So, towards the end of the summer or in the early fall these H2S levels increase and the "rotten eggs" odor is noticed at the outlet works.  Anyone who has been around Canyon Lake for any period of time understands this annual and natural occurrence.  As soon as the temperatures cool, the lake "turns over", the lake mixes, the dissolved oxygen levels are restored, and the odor disappears.  The odor has nothing to do with OSSF's.