Groundwater soaks some Harker Heights neighborhoods Posted On: Saturday, Nov. 28 2009 05:33 AM By Mason W. Canales
Killeen Daily Herald

HARKER HEIGHTS – Some areas in the city, including a portion of Jason Drive, are reporting groundwater runoff for days after it rains.

The amount of water in the streets is so high in some areas that residents have reported possible water main leaks.

"We have had several calls from all over the city about groundwater running into the street," Public Works Director Mark Hyde said.

The city has tested the water several times to make sure it's not from a water main, Hyde said. Those test were negative for chlorine residue.

"Normally, if you have a water leak of that magnitude, chlorine will show up as well," Hyde said. "That would mean if it is not potable water then it is groundwater."

Harker Heights isn't the only city in the area that is prone this type of water flow, said Peter Knightes, a professor of geography and geology at Central Texas College.

Copperas Cove has the same type of rock underneath its surface soils as Harker Heights, Knightes said. The Edwards Limestone, found beneath both cities, is the same limestone that makes up the Edwards Aquifer to the south.

"It is too thin here for it to act as an aquifer," Knightes said. "Around here, it acts like a big sponge any time it rains. All it does is receive the water, and all that water does is leak out."

Those leaks will sometimes look like natural springs or run into a road to be drained just like storm water runoff.

Killeen doesn't have as many problems with this because it doesn't have as many hills as Harker Heights and Copperas Cove, Knightes said.

While the water may be moving through private properties, there is not a lot those residents can do about it, Knightes said.

"It is the nature of the rock and there is nothing you can do," Knightes said.

The water shouldn't cause a lot of problems for residential properties, Knightes said.

"It is more of a nuisance than anything else," Hyde said. "It does slow down and dries up if the rainfall subsides."

Contact Mason W. Canales at mcanales@kdhnews.com or (254) 501-7554.