This will be a continuing theme given the strong possibility that we might be in the midst of a prolonged drought which might drive changes in how we treat the stuff:
- From the Texas Water Resources Institute: Expect changes in water policy if the drought continues.
- Water management agencies - like the Lower Colorado River Authority - are expected to announce that they will not release water to rice farmers in three counties: Wharton, Matagorda, and Colorado.
- As a consequence of the drought, the percentage of Houston's water supply that once - err - passed through the bodies of people in Dallas has increased. If the drought continues, the percentage will increase. It seems that last year, the water was not diluted at all. As bad as that sounds, DFW seems to be finding ways to reuse their own waste water, which means less down here. Houston uses a half billion gallons of water a day during the summer. Apparently Houston does not recycle its own waste water. Ain't local government sexy?
- Here's commentary last summer about the need for a long term water policy, and our inability so far to implement anything: Significant water supply planning strategies designed to protect our growing economy and communities from drought have not been implemented. Fourteen major reservoir sites designated by the Legislature in 2007 remain undeveloped due to lack of funding and federal regulatory interference. Regulatory hurdles preclude our ability to transfer water from bountiful rivers to areas in need. We need to take greater strides toward implementing water-smart conservation practices and technologies, including re-use and desalination.
Underlying each of these water supply strategies is the need for a consistent, reliable funding source for our water plan. Reservoirs, pipelines, and water desalination plants are expensive. Texas will need to invest $30 billion or more on water supply projects like these if we are to meet our needs in the coming decades. As the strings to our state's budget grow tighter, we may need to consider ways to raise revenues to finance these projects.
