The future of water is on November’s ballot and it could be coming from the Gulf
Help may be on the way from the ballot box to the Gulf to address the state’s water problems, which experts say are causing delays in new construction permits and boil water notices.
MORE PEOPLE AND AGING INFRASTRUCTURE AFFECTING WATER SUPPLY
Texas continues to attract new neighbors, and the increase at places like the Gulf Coast Water Authority is being watched closely.
“We average about 1,500 people a day coming to Texas,” said Robert Upton, regional engineer for the Gulf Coast Water Authority. “Where are they going? They’re coming to Houston. They’re going to come to other parts of the region, what’s needed? Water.”
Upton said increased demand could put pressure on water supply. Now they are looking for ways to ensure everyone has access to drinking water.
“That’s everyone’s question,” Upton said. “We need to look at the next step.”
Recently, city leaders in Magnolia and Conroe briefly paused new construction permits, citing water concerns.
Texas 2036 The problem isn’t just affecting more people’s drinking water, said Jeremy Mazur, director of infrastructure and natural resources policy. Aging infrastructure is affecting water supply to homes, he said.
“They had to put up with unreliable service or a warning to boil water,” Mazur explained.
Texas voters will decide whether to invest billions of dollars in water
To address water problems, state lawmakers are letting voters decide. This choice on the ballot is Proposition Four.
If approved, the state’s constitution would be amended to allocate $20 billion for water projects.
“It does this without raising taxes or otherwise increasing taxes,” Mazur explained. “It just uses existing sales tax revenue.”
Mazur said that although this amount is 20 billion dollars, it is still below the amount that should be spent to find solutions to water problems. Mazur said that more than $150 billion will need to be invested in the next 50 years.
But Mazur said it would be a good start.
“That $20 billion could easily be funded from $40 billion to $50 billion, depending on how the state chooses to use those dollars,” Mazur said.
Some groups say they’re not so sure. Sierra Club He said there are concerns about Proposal Four, including how money would be funneled to controversial projects and how sales tax money would be pulled from other areas.
There are also concerns about whether the money will actually be used for water projects. Houston voters approved the creation of a drainage fee in 2010.
But a lawsuit revealed that the money had been reallocated. Mazur said Proposition Four would be different because it changes the state constitution.
But he admits that doesn’t guarantee that all the money will go to water projects.
“The constitutional amendment allows for a temporary suspension of this allocation in the event of a statewide disaster declaration,” Mazur said. he said.
WE ARE RETURNING TO THE GULF FOR DRINKING WATER TRANSMISSION
Recommendation Four is not the only item addressing water issues. Gulf Coast Water Authority is currently conducting a study on desalination.
It is the process of taking salt water and converting it into drinking water.
“Right now we’re taking the brown colored water of the Brazos River and using the same process, purifying the same water into freshwater with sediment, total dissolved solids and chemical makeup, and from that we get pure water for drinking,” Upton explained.
The work should be completed by February, Upton said. If everything goes well, they can open a site in 10 years.
“There’s an endless sea out there,” Upton said. “This is a treatment process with proven technology. Do I see it coming? Yes.”
In fact, a desalination plant could be coming to Texas City within five years. Right now, EPCOR It overlooks an abandoned facility off State Highway 146 in Texas City.
Currently in the permit process. Company officials gave ABC13 a tour of the area.
They explained how the canals pumped water from the bay into the area and how they would release the salt back into another canal. They said that when it reaches the bay, the salt level will be slightly above normal.
The facility will enable them to provide drinking water to more than 100,000 homes.
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