Texas Border Business
Adequate supplies of fresh water at reasonable prices are essential to quality of life and economic growth. Over the next 30 years, we are predicting that the Texas population will increase from about 31 million to well over 45 million. This increase of more than 14 million people plus growth in economic output of some $3.4 trillion, much of it in water-intensive sectors, will clearly require far more resources than are currently available.
Rainfall varies dramatically across the state, from about 10 inches per year in the west to up to 60 inches in the east, and there are notable differences year to year. It’s not a place where last-minute solutions in the form of new reservoirs are likely to be sufficient, particularly since such facilities typically take decades to implement. Aquifers supply well over half of the water used in the state, including about one-third of that used to meet municipal demands, and some of them are slow to recharge. In fact, available supply from aquifers is projected to decline significantly over time due to depletion.
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) is the state agency in charge of water planning. In the most recent report, a variety of water management strategies are explored ranging from conservation to investments in additional sources. Although currently the largest category of needs is irrigation, future requirements will be driven by municipal use. Steam electric, manufacturing, mining, and livestock are the other categories tracked, but are small components of aggregate requirements.
With regard to aquifers, the goal is to balance utilization with conservation, protection, recharge, and control of subsidence (which is when the ground sinks due to removal of underground material such as water). In some cases, such as the Edwards Aquifer, water levels and spring flows are measured around the clock, and cities (including San Antonio) and other users which rely on the resource must adjust their consumption accordingly.
Clearly, major investments will be required in a variety of traditional and innovative approaches, with cost estimates ranging as high as $154 billion over the next 50 years. A statewide coalition of business leaders and organizations is working to encourage legislative action to secure additional funding. In 2023, bills were passed and approved by voters setting aside $1 billion and creating the Texas Water Fund, which allows TWDB to utilize various financial assistance programs for water projects. Voters have also approved constitutional amendments to help pay for water supply increases.
During the current Texas legislative session, lawmakers will have an estimated surplus of almost $24 billion. Although there are many challenges to be dealt with (including education, power, and other infrastructure), efforts aimed at enhancing long-term water supplies clearly merit significant attention. Stay safe!
___________________________________
Dr. M. Ray Perryman is President and Chief Executive Officer of The Perryman Group (www.perrymangroup.com), which has served the needs of over 3,000 clients over the past four decades.
