WATER : A MAJOR ISSUE THAT IS BEING LOOKED AT DURING THE 83RD LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Over the past one hundred and thirty-three legislative days, the Texas Legislature has looked at a number of very important issues facing the State of Texas. Many of these issues continue to be discussed as the 83rd Texas Legislature moves closer to its official “Sine Die” on May 27th.
In 2010 the United States Census calculated Texas’ population to be at approximately twenty five million. This was an increase of nearly four and a half million people since the census was done in 2000. It is clear that Texas is very fortunate to be in a position in which people from all over the country are wanting to move in to the state due to the job opportunities and others benefits that our wonderful state can provide for them. This increase in population while speaking well of Texas and the opportunities our state can offer also creates an increased burden on a vital resource in the state, water. Water became even more of an issue for the State of Texas in 2011, when the state experienced one of the worst one-year droughts on record. These factors have made water unarguably one of the most important and difficult issues which have been discussed this session.
It is important to remember that not only is the population of Texas directly impacted by the need for water, but the accessibility of water is also extremely important to industries located throughout the State of Texas. During the legislative session, a number of ideas were proposed and examined as possible directions the state could review in order to solve the state’s water needs. One of the ideas reviewed this session was the creation of the state water implementation fund for Texas and the state water implementation revenue fund for Texas. These funds would be used to assist the Texas Water Development Board in providing low-cost financial assistance to local and regional providers for projects identified in the 2012 State Water Plan. Some of those suggested ideas include:
• Water conservation – Water conservation can be achieved through the alteration of everyday activities. These include the use of low flow toilets and low flow shower heads. Other degrees of conservation can be done through water used by municipalities or businesses.
• Surface water strategies – Strategies relating to surface waters include the diversion of streams, the creation of new reservoirs.
• Water reuse strategies – Water reuse often relates to water used for landscapes, parks, and other irrigation needs in many Texas communities.
• Groundwater strategies – These strategies include the use of desalination to address brackish groundwater.
Other strategies include:
• Drought management – This is a temporary demand reduction technique based on groundwater or surface water supply levels of a particular utility.
• Desalination – This is the process of removing salt from seawater or brackish water. This is a process which could be implemented anywhere along the Texas coast when utilizing seawater.
• Brush control – This is relating to the management of brush which consume large amounts of water.
If you would like to learn more about the ideas that have been discussed to resolve the state’s water needs, these websites can serve as a great resource:
• Texas Legislature Online
• The Texas House of Representatives
• The Texas Senate
If you have questions or comments regarding water related issues or any of the other legislation being consider by the Texas Legislature, please do not hesitate to call my Capitol or District Office. As always, my offices are available at any time to assist with questions, concerns or comments (Capitol Office, 512-463-0672; District Office, 361-949-4603).
– State Representative Todd Hunter, District 32
Rep. Hunter represents Nueces (Part) County. He can be contacted at todd.hunter@house.state.tx.us or at 512-463-0672.
