The groundwater flow system composed of the Edwards-Trinity (Plateau) Aquifer and the Hill Country portion of the Trinity Aquifer together occupy an area of ~100,000 km² of west-central Texas. In addition to the common groundwater flow system, these aquifers also share a common, contiguous hydrostratigraphy—the Trinity Group hydrostratigraphic unit. The aquifers provide the primary source of water for the Edwards Plateau and Texas Hill Country and also sustain numerous springs and streams in the region. The sensitivity of the aquifers to drought and well discharge has raised concerns over the availability of water from these aquifers.

Groundwater discharge takes the form of (1) discharge to streams and springs; (2) evapotranspiration; (3) pumpage from wells; and (4) cross-formational flow across the Balcones fault zone boundary to the Edwards (Balcones Fault Zone) Aquifer and underlying parts of the Trinity Aquifer. Groundwater inflow to these aquifers occurs by diffuse and discrete infiltration through the aquifer outcrops. Due to regional variability of lithologic compositions, hydraulic conductivity and storativity vary both vertically and laterally throughout the aquifer, with hydraulic conductivity decreasing with depth and from north to south.