Water is critical to ensure a prosperous future for Texas. That’s a statement that virtually no one disagrees with. Water satisfies thirsty communities, fuels industry, powers next generation technologies, sustains reliable generation of electricity, and maintains the natural beauty of the state.
But Texans will soon go to the polls to vote on legislation that could help secure water for the future prosperity of the Lone Star State.
Texas faces serious water challenges, such as droughts, uneven distribution of water resources, and the high cost of securing and delivering water to meet the needs of a growing population and industry demands. Consider that Texas’ population will increase by an estimated 73% by 2070 to 51.5 million, while water supplies are projected to decrease by about 18%. If water scarcity is not dealt with, a severe drought could cost Texas $128 billion in economic losses. Inaction is not an option. Cities, farms, and industry need water, and must plan and work together with state policymakers to ensure that Texas continues to succeed.
Getting this water won’t be cheap or easy. The costs of recommended water projects in the state’s most recent Water Plan add up to about $80 billion (in 2018 dollars). About 55% of the money is projected to be spent on conservation, water reuse, and surface water allocation.
TPPF supports exploring all prudent options with a high return on investment, but the highest priority should be developing new water supplies.
Certainly, conservation and repairing leaking pipes are important, but new water is critical to attract and keep new businesses and prevent water bills from skyrocketing. And you can be sure that if Texas doesn’t act, then other states will promote a “we have water” message—to their economic advantage.
Throughout history, great civilizations have moved water. Yet today when moving surface water across basin boundaries is routine in other states, it is not commonly done in Texas. Moving surface water across basins faces legal and regulatory headwinds, and it will require legislative action and political will to get that water moving.
At Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s direction, Texas Legislature took action last spring. Senate Bill 7, legislation that establishes mechanisms and processes to build water security, was passed into law with unanimous support. The bill sets Texas on a path toward achieving water security.
Another measure, Proposition 4, which was created by the passage of House Joint Resolution 7, will be on the November ballot to give voters a choice to create a reliable source of money for water projects. If passed, Proposition 4 would annually dedicate $1 billion for 20 years from sales tax revenue to fund water projects. During legislative hearings on the Joint Resolution, proponents highlighted how statewide water projects will ensure that Texas addresses immediate water shortages and plans for future needs.
TPPF has clarified in past research papers on the issue of water scarcity broadly that an “all hands on deck” approach is critical to supplying water for all Texans: applying state funds—complimented with local funding and public-private partnerships—to develop new water supplies. Accordingly, good government principles demand that there must be rigorous financial guardrails to ensure transparency and accountability for our taxpayers.
Texas’ water challenges can’t be wished away. As the fate of this constitutional amendment is in the hands of Texas voters, TPPF will continue to work on water policy reforms to holistically address the state’s water scarcity challenges.
