AUSTIN, Texas — As more than 1,000 people move to Texas each day, along with new businesses, state lawmakers are looking for more water supplies.
The $1 billion Texas Water Fund approved by voters in November 2023 took centerstage at the Capitol during a hearing on Tuesday.
“Water is the singular most important issue facing the state,” said Brooke Paup, chairwoman of the Texas Water Development Board.
Paup was one of several invited speakers at the Texas Senate Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs Committee meeting on Tuesday.
While state lawmakers can’t pass bills until the next legislative session, which starts in January, interim hearings let them take feedback on major issues they’ll tackle.
“I can’t stress enough that we have to start next session putting dollars to this task,” said State Sen. Charles Perry (R-Lubbock), the committee's chair.
Jason Knobloch, the deputy executive director of the Texas Rural Water Association, told lawmakers a summer survey of rural water systems found just 19% think they will have enough water.
"[They] probably live in areas where you’re still going an hour or two to Walmart,” Knobloch said. “They don’t think the growth is coming.”
Meanwhile, big cities like Austin are working to reuse more wastewater.
Shay Ralls Roalson, the director of Austin Water, told lawmakers her utility is finalizing a partnership with the private sector made possible by Senate Bill 1289, which passed during the 2023 legislative session and was later signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott.
“Austin Water estimates that such wastewater mining projects could save 60 million gallons or more per year of drinking water use, depending on how the wastewater is used,” Roalson said.
As people keep moving to Texas, longtime Texans hope their lawmakers keep moving forward with solutions to protect this resource.
“Armchair quarterback: 20 years ago, they should have anticipated that,” said Donnie Hramodka, who has lived in Austin since 1975.
He added, “I still love it here.”
KVUE met Hramodka fishing at Lake Travis, which was 47% full Tuesday.
“It is boom or bust,” Hramodka said. “I’m just so glad this lake is open.”
Lake Travis supplies drinking water for the city of Austin. High demand is one factor in its low level.
“We get so much rain east of 290. I wish we had a reservoir out that way,” said Nicholas Urbanski, who was also fishing at Lake Travis on Tuesday.
In August, the Texas Water Development Board released a shortlist of 66 projects to get money from the Texas Water Fund, mostly in smaller, rural areas. That includes $1.37 million for a new smart metering system for the city of Lexington.