TEXAS CITY, Texas (KTRK) — From a ballot item to the Gulf, help could be on the way to address the state’s water woes, which experts say are leading to delays in new building permits and boil water notices.
MORE PEOPLE, AND AGING INFRASTRUCTURE ARE IMPACTING WATER SUPPLY
Texas continues to attract new neighbors, and an increase in places such as the Gulf Coast Water Authority is being closely watched.
“We have on average 1,500 people per day coming into Texas,” Gulf Coast Water Authority district engineer Robert Upton said. “Where do they go? They come to Houston. They’ll come to other parts of the area, and what’s needed? Water.”
Upton said the increased demand can put a strain on the water supply. Now, they’re looking for ways to ensure everyone has access to drinking water.
“That’s everybody’s question,” Upton said. “We have to be looking to the next step.”
Recently, Magnolia and Conroe city leaders briefly paused new building permits because they cited water concerns.
Texas 2036 infrastructure and natural resources policy director Jeremy Mazur said it’s not just more people impacting drinking water. He said aging infrastructure is impacting the water going to homes.
“Unreliable service, or they had to put up with a boil water notice,” Mazur explained.
TEXAS VOTERS GET TO DECIDE WHETHER TO INVEST BILLIONS INTO WATER
To address water woes, state lawmakers are letting voters decide. On the ballot, this election is Proposition Four.
If approved, it would change the state’s constitution to allocate $20 billion to water projects.
“It does this without raising taxes or otherwise expanding taxes,” Mazur explained. “It just uses existing sales tax revenues.”
While it’s $20 billion, Mazur said it’s still below what needs to be spent to address the water problems. Mazur said that more than $150 billion will need to be invested over the next 50 years.
However, Mazur said this would be a good start.
“This $20 billion could be easily financed to upwards of $40 billion or $50 billion, depending on how the state elects to use these dollars,” Mazur said.
Some groups say they aren’t so sure. The Sierra Club said there are concerns with Proposition Four, including how money would go towards controversial projects, and sales tax money would be taken away from other areas.
There’s also the concern about whether the money will actually be used on water projects. Houston voters approved the creation of a drainage fee in 2010.
However, a lawsuit revealed money had been reallocated. Mazur said Proposition Four would be different because it changes the state’s constitution.
Although he admits it doesn’t guarantee all of the money will go towards water projects.
“The constitutional amendment does allow the temporary suspension of this dedication if there’s a statewide disaster declaration,” Mazur said.
TURNING TO THE GULF TO DELIVER DRINKING WATER
Proposition Four isn’t the only item addressing water concerns. The Gulf Coast Water Authority is currently doing a study on desalination.
It’s a process that takes salt water and turns it into drinking water.
“We currently take the Brazos River water, which is brown in color, and we treat that same process, the same water, to fresh water that has sediment, total dissolved solids, chemical makeup, and we make pure water out of it for drinking,” Upton explained.
Upton said the study should be completed by February. If all goes well, they may have a site open in 10 years.
“It’s an endless sea out there,” Upton said. “It is a treatment process that is proven technology. Do I see it coming? Yes.”
In fact, a desalination plant could be coming to Texas City in five years. Right now, EPCOR is eyeing an abandoned facility off State Highway 146 in Texas City.
It’s currently in the permitting process. Company officials gave ABC13 a tour of the location.
They explained how channels allow water from the bay to pump into the location, and how they would release the salt back into another channel. By the time it reaches the bay, they said the salt level would be slightly higher than normal.
The facility would enable them to provide drinking water to more than 100,000 homes.
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Niko Travis is a dedicated health writer with a passion for providing clear, reliable, and research-backed information about medications and mental health. As the author behind TrazodoneSUC, Niko simplifies complex medical topics to help readers understand the benefits, uses, and potential risks of Trazodone. With a commitment to accuracy and well-being, Niko ensures that every article empowers readers to make informed decisions about their health.
