Texas water sustainability efforts gaining momentum

A Texas-sized demand for water, particularly in agriculture and growing urban areas, is prompting an increased focus on sustainability in the state. A recent event hosted by the Texas Section of the American Water Works Association (TAWWA) and Texas Tech University’s Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources is aimed at developing innovative solutions through collaboration.

The Agricultural Water Sustainability Summit, presented Aug. 7-9 in Lubbock, brought together representatives from agriculture and municipalities, as well as technology manufacturers, climate experts, public officials, regulators, researchers and students, to share and learn about conservation practices, new technologies, and federal funding programs. (Pictured above and at left, participants and presenter at Agricultural Water Sustainability Summit.)

“The purpose of this collaboration, which is the first of its kind in North America, is to create an ongoing, nation-wide forum for agriculture and municipal water users to meet annually to discuss common water issues,” said Daniel Nix, TAWWA’s executive director. “Our goal is for this to be the premier, agriculture-related water event in the country, where visionary research, applications and practitioners come together to create water sustainability practices for the future.”

Sharing lessons learned in Israel

Representatives from Israel, a world leader in sustainable water practices, shared an international perspective at the summit. Presenters from government agencies, research and manufacturing discussed how the country manages water resources and reuses wastewater for agricultural uses.

“We worked closely with the Israeli Embassy and their Economic Trade Mission to include this as a component of the summit,” Nix said. “Texas already uses some of the water conservation equipment manufactured in Israel for agriculture.”

Nix noted that the West Texas region has already been adapting its water use practices to better manage the depleting Ogallala aquifer and limited rainfall. Like in most states, agriculture is Texas’ largest water consumer, and the state produces food and fiber crops such as cotton, sorghum, rice, and corn worth more than $159 billion each year, he added.

“Without water, we are not going to have any food, and without food there is nobody to drink water,” Nix said. “It makes sense that the agriculture and municipalities start working together to sustain our water supplies. This is the kind of thinking that is happening through AWWA’s Water 2050 initiative.”

Making Texas water a priority

The value of water is recognized as a priority in Texas. In 2023, the Texas Legislature passed legislation to create the Texas Water Fund. More than 77% of voters approved a onetime, $1 billion supplemental appropriation of general revenue to the fund, which is administered by the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB).

According to the state’s 2022 water plan, the population of Texas is projected to increase 73% between 2020 and 2070, from 29.7 million to 51.5 million. In August, the TWDB began distributing the funding for loans and grants to help Texas communities implement water supply and wastewater projects through existing TWDB programs. Funds also will support a New Water Supply for Texas Fund to implement water supply strategies such as marine and brackish water desalination, oil and gas produced water treatment projects, and aquifer storage and recovery projects.