Creating the Water Supplies of the
Future in Time of Financial Drought
Lewis McMahan
Texas Water Development Board
Budget deficit
Austin American Statesman – January 10, 2011
Revenue estimate puts shortfall at $27 billion
“Texas is expected to collect $72.2 billion in taxes, fees and
other general revenue during the 2012-13 budget, down from
the $87 billion used in the current two-year budget,
Comptroller Susan Combs announced Monday.
That puts the shortfall at $27 billion given that maintaining
services would run $99 billion for biennium.”
Growth continues
“Between 2004 and 2006 state-tostate migrants to Texas increased
fourfold”
“Between 2006 and 2008, an
average of 80,471 Californians
moved to Texas. That was nearly
twice the number of Texans
moving to California, giving Texas
a net gain of 37,166 Californians
a year”
Dallas Morning News
December 21, 2010
Population in Texas is expected to
more than double between the
years 2000 and 2060, growing
from about 21 million to about
46 million.
Water for Texas - 2007
Funding the State Water Plan
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Additional supplies needed by 2060: 8.3 million acre-feet
Plans: 9.0 million acre-feet per year by 2060
Capital costs to design, construct, or implement the recommended
water management strategies ~$53 billion.
(Preliminary data for 2012 State Water Plan)
Legislative Appropriations Request FY 12-13

Additional Bonding Authority
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Economically Distressed Areas Program -$100 million
State Water Plan Debt Service -$200 million
Texas Seawater Desalination Demonstration
Project [$9.5 million grant]
Sunset Advisory Commission
Authorize the Board to issue
Development Fund general obligation
bonds, at its discretion, on a continuing
basis, in amounts such that the
aggregate principal amount outstanding
at any time does not exceed $6 billion.
The Crow and the Pitcher *
A CROW perishing with thirst saw a pitcher, and hoping to find water,
flew to it with delight. When he reached it, he discovered to his grief
that it contained so little water that he could not possibly get at it. He
tried everything he could think of to reach the water, but all his efforts
were in vain. At last he collected as many stones as he could carry and
dropped them one by one with his beak into the pitcher, until he
brought the water within his reach and thus saved his life.
Necessity is the mother of invention.
* Aesop’s Fables
Effective steps to advance the water
infrastructure agenda
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Water planning
Improve regulatory
environment
Support water
research
Education and
outreach recognition
Effective partnerships
Effective Long-term Water Planning
Example: Regional & state water planning in Texas

Effective plans are easier
to fund and implement
Improve regulatory framework

Implementing innovative
water technologies



Desalination concentrate
management



Education
Demonstration projects
(Hazardous Waste)
Classification
Underground injection
Professional organizations
Support water research programs
Reuse Research Agenda
GIS Tools for Water Reuse
Agricultural Water Conservation
Desalination Guidelines
Education and outreach


Water conservation
Alternative sources




Water reuse
Water desalination
Aquifer storage and
recovery
Water planning
Innovative Water Technologies
helping to extend texas' water resources
Education and outreach: Recognizing excellence

Examples of desirable and
replicable practices
Partnering around technology development

Water Technology Innovation Cluster
[US EPA Press Release January 18,
2011]


partnerships among: universities, large
corporations, emerging companies,
federal government, state government,
local government, and economic
development associations
develop and commercialize innovative
technologies to solve environmental and
public health challenges, encourage
sustainable economic development, and
create jobs
http://www.epa.gov/wtic
Effective Regional Partnerships
Example: Tarrant Regional Water District Wetland Reuse Project*
Existing Supply:
RichlandChambers
Cedar Creek
Bridgeport
Eagle Mtn.
Benbrook
Arlington
Tarrant Co.
Dallas Co.
Cedar
Creek
RichlandChambers
Trinity
River
* Modified from APA’s McDonald
Introduction and overview of potable reuse projects already implementedTexas Innovative Water 2010
Phase II Wetland
Current Wetland
Our stones
1. Planning
2. Improving
3. Research
4. Education
5. Partnering
regulations
Water Science and Conservation
Innovative Water Technologies
Innovative Water Technologies
To research, develop, and disseminate
information to advance the
development of innovative water
management strategies in Texas
[email protected]
512-475-3003