Water
Adequate supplies of fresh water at reasonable prices are essential to quality of life and economic growth. Over the next 30 years, we are predicting that the Texas population will increase from about 31 million to well over 45 million. This increase of more than 14 million people plus growth in economic output of some $3.4 trillion, much of it in water-intensive sectors, will clearly require far more resources than are currently available.
Rainfall varies dramatically across the state, from about 10 inches per year in the west to up to 60 inches in the east, and there are notable differences year to year. It's not a place where last-minute solutions in the form of new reservoirs are likely to be sufficient, particularly since such facilities typically take decades to implement. Aquifers supply well over half of the water used in the state, including about one-third of that used to meet municipal demands, and some of them are slow to recharge. In fact, available supply from aquifers is projected to decline significantly over time due to depletion.
