Is Texas On The Brink Of Running Dry?
As warmer months approach, Texas communities are bracing for another summer of water scarcity. With demand rising and supplies dwindling, what do state leaders plan to do about it?
According to the Texas Water Development Board's 2022 water plan, the state could be on a path to severe water shortages by 2030. Combined with the increasing population in Texas, the water supply just might not be able to keep up.
To combat the threat, some Texas lawmakers have pushed for bigger efforts in exploring seawater desalination to address Texas water issues. In fact, just last week, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) approved the City of Corpus Christi’s desalination plant, which will produce up to 36 million gallons of potable water per day once completed by 2028.
But it’s not just the water supply that is falling short — it’s also Texas’ aging infrastructure that is contributing to major water shortages. The amount of water lost in Texas water systems every day is “enough to meet the total annual municipal needs of Austin, El Paso, Fort Worth, Laredo and Lubbock combined,” according to the Texas Tribune.
Senate Bill 7, expected to be authored by Senator Charles Perry, will push for the creation of a statewide water grid, a “network of pipelines and supply connections to better distribute water across Texas.”
The question is, which path will bring Texans closer to water security? The answer remains to be seen, but the desalination plant and water grid could be important steps towards a brighter, wetter future for Texas.