As the Texas population grows there's concern about water supply. The state’s water development board data shows water demand rising in the future.
State Senator Charles Perry of West Texas has a passion for saving water and is to file legislation that would ask voters to dedicate money for water supply and infrastructure and to build a new water grid. He says the state is behind 20 years on water supply projects.
Texas water must be a multi-front event, Perry believes, with plans at the state level and coordinated efforts at local and regional levels.
Perry spoke with the Texas Tribune.
"In talking to one of my landowners up in my area, 'Well, you know Senator Perry, when you tell us the state's coming to get water, they're going to come take our water.' When I explained to him, we're going to supplant municipal use with 300,000-plus acres a year (acre-feet of water) leaving that in the aquifer for irrigated crop production, is that not an in-kind contribution and the light bulb came on, right?"
Perry said some future water supply sources include the desalination of sea water, water produced in the oil and gas industry, surface water, and buying water from other states.
"Talking to the representation on the east side of the state that has some surplus water, the political climate is different. They are willing to have the conversation about taking and buying some of that water. One of the key factors there is that I'm not buying water rights, I'm buying water."
He also said that some lawmakers didn't get interested in water until their own areas were starting to run dry.
