INSIDER
U.S.-Mexico water agreement might bring relief to parched South Texas
Read full article: U.S.-Mexico water agreement might bring relief to parched South TexasThe amendment to a 1944 treaty will help Mexico catch up with its water deliveries to the U.S. and might help Rio Grande Valley farmers devastated by low rainfall.
Terlingua’s tourist season has started. Here’s why and how you can help conserve water on your visit.
Read full article: Terlingua’s tourist season has started. Here’s why and how you can help conserve water on your visit.It’s unclear how much water resides underneath this booming West Texas tourist haven. That makes conservation critical.
A West Texas pecan farm fights to save its water supply as neighbors sell it to growing cities
Read full article: A West Texas pecan farm fights to save its water supply as neighbors sell it to growing citiesA yearslong dispute over exporting water to growing Texas cities offers a hint at the battles to come as the state’s population booms and water supply dwindles.
Laredo ends boil-water notice after 11 days, turns attention to illegal connections and old pipes
Read full article: Laredo ends boil-water notice after 11 days, turns attention to illegal connections and old pipesThe South Texas city has hired a consulting firm for $200,000 to provide an interim director for the utility amid a restructuring of the department.
Laredo enters its sixth day of a boil-water notice after E. coli is discovered in water system
Read full article: Laredo enters its sixth day of a boil-water notice after E. coli is discovered in water systemThe South Texas city is the latest to grapple with aging water infrastructure, which officials suggested could have been the cause for the E. coli outbreak.
A West Texas ranch and resort will limit water to residents amid fears its wells will run dry
Read full article: A West Texas ranch and resort will limit water to residents amid fears its wells will run dryResidents at the sprawling Terlingua Ranch near Big Bend National Park will limit residents to 1,000 gallons of nondrinking water per month.
After six years, a Texas town’s boil-water notice has been lifted, but residents are still concerned
Read full article: After six years, a Texas town’s boil-water notice has been lifted, but residents are still concernedThe town’s troubles started in 2018, when its water tested positive for the dangerous E.coli bacteria.
Texas Water Board details how it will spend $1 billion for water infrastructure projects
Read full article: Texas Water Board details how it will spend $1 billion for water infrastructure projectsAbout $45 million will go to Texas towns with fewer than 1,000 residents — a boon for municipalities without a viable tax base.
As the Rio Grande runs dry, South Texas cities look to alternatives for water
Read full article: As the Rio Grande runs dry, South Texas cities look to alternatives for waterMany of the solutions are costly, putting them out of reach for small towns. But the region's most populous cities are getting innovative.
South Texas needs rain. Tropical Storm Alberto didn’t deliver enough.
Read full article: South Texas needs rain. Tropical Storm Alberto didn’t deliver enough.The region's two major reservoirs are at record-low levels and agriculture leaders are worried the citrus industry could be devastated this summer.
U.S. Supreme Court blocks the state’s Rio Grande water deal with New Mexico
Read full article: U.S. Supreme Court blocks the state’s Rio Grande water deal with New MexicoWater law experts say the Supreme Court's recent decision will set a precedent for the federal government to intervene in water conflicts between states moving forward.
Unchecked growth around Big Bend sparks debate over water — a prelude for Texas
Read full article: Unchecked growth around Big Bend sparks debate over water — a prelude for TexasNo one knows how much water sits beneath the desert of Terlingua. Residents worry their wells will run dry, as developers and local officials cheer the tourism boom.
Texas delegation urges Congress to withhold aid to Mexico over water treaty dispute
Read full article: Texas delegation urges Congress to withhold aid to Mexico over water treaty disputeA bipartisan group of Texas lawmakers are demanding appropriators withhold funds for the country until Mexico lives up to its end of a 1944 water treaty that requires it to send 1.75 million acre-feet to the U.S. every five years.
North Texas landowners trying to stop a reservoir that Wichita Falls calls crucial
Read full article: North Texas landowners trying to stop a reservoir that Wichita Falls calls crucialState regulators face a critical decision this week on whether to approve a permit for a new reservoir that the city of Wichita Falls says is vital for ensuring enough water for the region. But some locals are fighting the project.
South Texas farmers are in peril as the Rio Grande Valley runs dry — again
Read full article: South Texas farmers are in peril as the Rio Grande Valley runs dry — againWith the hottest days still ahead, local leaders have declared emergencies. And farmers are lobbying for the U.S. government to pressure Mexico to release water.
Dozens of Texas water systems exceed new federal limits on “forever chemicals”
Read full article: Dozens of Texas water systems exceed new federal limits on “forever chemicals”The EPA set its first-ever drinking water limits for five types of PFAS chemicals, and nearly 50 Texas public water systems have reported exceeding the new limits for at least one.
Texas voters gave retired teachers raises and approved new infrastructure funds as most constitutional amendments passed
Read full article: Texas voters gave retired teachers raises and approved new infrastructure funds as most constitutional amendments passedVoters approved a massive property tax cut and several other measures, but refused to raise the mandatory retirement age for judges.
Texans may approve billions for energy, water, parks and broadband on Nov. 7
Read full article: Texans may approve billions for energy, water, parks and broadband on Nov. 7At stake in next week’s constitutional amendment election is $13 billion in infrastructure spending. Supporters say it’s an opportunity for a once-in-a-lifetime investment.
Author Dan Egan talks with The Texas Tribune about phosphorus overuse and toxic algae blooms
Read full article: Author Dan Egan talks with The Texas Tribune about phosphorus overuse and toxic algae bloomsEgan sat down with Tribune environmental reporter Alejandra Martinez to talk about his new book, “The Devil’s Element: Phosphorus and a World Out of Balance,” which explains how overuse of phosphorus is impacting the environment.
Llano River communities fight former oil executive’s plan for a private dam
Read full article: Llano River communities fight former oil executive’s plan for a private damTexas has thousands of private dams, but a former oil executive’s application to build one on the South Llano River would be the first in the watershed for recreational use. Opponents fear it would harm the river’s health and encourage more private dams.
Texas’ environmental agency enables companies to increase oilfield wastewater disposal in rivers
Read full article: Texas’ environmental agency enables companies to increase oilfield wastewater disposal in riversResearchers are still studying the chemical makeup of “produced water” from Permian Basin oil fields. But regulators say they’re ready to issue permits to discharge the water into rivers and creeks.
Texas towns are starving for capital and lack the resources to apply for grants. This group hopes to help.
Read full article: Texas towns are starving for capital and lack the resources to apply for grants. This group hopes to help.Texas Rural Funders hopes a one-stop resource for grant applications and writers could help small towns win money to fund innovation and capital needs.
Without access to water lines, Texas colonias residents are pulling water from the desert air
Read full article: Without access to water lines, Texas colonias residents are pulling water from the desert airThousands of low-income, Latino residents in Texas still do not have safe drinking water. In one El Paso colonia, some residents are using solar distillation to generate water from the air.
Texas lawmakers allocated more than $2 billion to increase the state’s water supply and reduce flooding
Read full article: Texas lawmakers allocated more than $2 billion to increase the state’s water supply and reduce floodingTexans across the state are affected by declining water supplies, water infrastructure disruptions and flooding in their communities.
After historic drought, lawmakers agree on billion-dollar plan to expand water supplies, fix infrastructure
Read full article: After historic drought, lawmakers agree on billion-dollar plan to expand water supplies, fix infrastructureFollowing one of the hottest summers on record, lawmakers have set an ambitious target: By 2033, they want to bump up the state’s water supply by an amount equal to three of the largest reservoirs in the state.
Rural Texas landowners who lost water access due to San Antonio pipeline could soon get relief
Read full article: Rural Texas landowners who lost water access due to San Antonio pipeline could soon get reliefGroundwater levels rapidly declined in rural Lee County after San Antonio began pumping the water and moving it 100 miles southwest. A Senate bill would help affected well owners.
House advances bill that could provide billions of dollars for new water projects and fixing aging infrastructure
Read full article: House advances bill that could provide billions of dollars for new water projects and fixing aging infrastructureThe bill aims to create a water supply four times the size of Lake Livingston, one of the state’s largest reservoirs. But it may still be a “drop in the bucket” compared to the state’s needs.
Everything you need to know about Texas’ beleaguered water systems
Read full article: Everything you need to know about Texas’ beleaguered water systemsTexas has more than 7,000 water systems. A fraction of them self-reported that they lost 30 billion gallons of water due to broken pipes and leaks in 2021.
Texas’ water infrastructure is broken, jeopardizing quality and supply for a growing state
Read full article: Texas’ water infrastructure is broken, jeopardizing quality and supply for a growing stateOn a daily basis, water managers in cities across the state move from crisis to crisis hoping to keep the water flowing to residents.
Texas has the fifth-highest percentage of water pipes made of lead
Read full article: Texas has the fifth-highest percentage of water pipes made of leadIn a first-of-its-kind survey of public water utilities, the EPA estimates that 7% of water lines in Texas, more than 647,000, are lead based. It’s the fifth-highest proportion of lead-based water lines in the country.
Texas Senate moves to set aside billions for future water needs
Read full article: Texas Senate moves to set aside billions for future water needsThe Senate on Monday passed a bill that would create a new state fund tailored for large or long-shot water supply projects, including marine desalination. The bill will advance to the House.
Texas Senate takes first step toward establishing billions for state’s water supply, infrastructure
Read full article: Texas Senate takes first step toward establishing billions for state’s water supply, infrastructureVoters would have the final say on whether the state sets aside billions of dollars to acquire new water sources and invest in aging infrastructure.
Black and Hispanic Texans say they don’t trust the quality of their water
Read full article: Black and Hispanic Texans say they don’t trust the quality of their waterA survey was commissioned by the nonprofit organization Texas Water Trade and included responses from households in both rural border communities and in urban areas across Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth.
A new bipartisan group of Texas lawmakers wants to highlight the state’s fragile water infrastructure
Read full article: A new bipartisan group of Texas lawmakers wants to highlight the state’s fragile water infrastructureSo far there has been an average of six boil-water notices a day across Texas in 2023.
‘Refrain’ due to ‘strain’: City officials in surrounding Houston areas ask residents to stop dripping faucets
Read full article: ‘Refrain’ due to ‘strain’: City officials in surrounding Houston areas ask residents to stop dripping faucetsThere has already been confusion on whether “to drip or not to drip” during this week’s “big chill,” but that may no longer be an issue because several local officials are asking people in the surrounding Houston areas to stop dripping their faucets as it can cause more harm than good at this time.
A boil-water notice in Houston made national news. In rural Texas, it’s a way of life.
Read full article: A boil-water notice in Houston made national news. In rural Texas, it’s a way of life.Rural communities face compounding reasons they can’t improve their water infrastructure, including inflation and a lack of human resources.
Houston officials say state made the call on water boil notice
Read full article: Houston officials say state made the call on water boil noticeFor more than 24 hours, nearly everyone in the nation’s fourth-most-populous city had been asked to boil water after a power outage at a water treatment plant Sunday.
Houstonians say the city fumbled sounding the alarm on boil water notice
Read full article: Houstonians say the city fumbled sounding the alarm on boil water noticeMany residents in the nation’s fourth-most-populous city heard that they couldn’t drink tap water from friends or neighbors, not from City Hall.
Houston boil water notice forces schools to shut down
Read full article: Houston boil water notice forces schools to shut downMillions of Houston residents are expected to be under a boil water notice until Tuesday after a power outage at a water treatment plant. At least four school districts canceled Monday classes.
An East Texas town must boil its water on Thanksgiving as officials seek a solution to aging infrastructure
Read full article: An East Texas town must boil its water on Thanksgiving as officials seek a solution to aging infrastructureZavalla lost all water for several days. The Texas Department of Emergency Management has sent pallets of bottled water and a team to help.
Texas’ plan to provide water for a growing population virtually ignores climate change
Read full article: Texas’ plan to provide water for a growing population virtually ignores climate changeTexas’ biggest single solution to providing enough water for its soaring population in the coming decades is using more surface water, including about two dozen new large reservoirs. But climate change has made damming rivers a riskier bet.
To save water in Texas, these nonprofits are paying farmers to leave it in reservoirs
Read full article: To save water in Texas, these nonprofits are paying farmers to leave it in reservoirsAs Texas continues to battle drought, groups are trying a market-based solution to help farmers and protect what little water is left.
EPA may try to block what could be the first seawater desalination plant built in Texas
Read full article: EPA may try to block what could be the first seawater desalination plant built in TexasCiting water quality concerns, the Environmental Protection Agency may refuse to recognize a permit that Texas approved Thursday for a marine desalination plant at the Port of Corpus Christi.
Gov. Greg Abbott declares Dallas-Fort Worth deluge a disaster, freeing up state resources to help in recovery
Read full article: Gov. Greg Abbott declares Dallas-Fort Worth deluge a disaster, freeing up state resources to help in recoveryThe declaration covers 23 counties across the state and comes after some saw more than 10 inches of rainfall Monday.
After decades of broken promises, a Texas ‘donut hole’ community will get running water
Read full article: After decades of broken promises, a Texas ‘donut hole’ community will get running waterConstruction began in July to bring water to Cochran, one of several colonias along the border not served by public water systems. The project is expected to be completed by October.
“A perfect storm”: Drought, extreme heat and two faulty wells threaten a North Texas town’s water supply
Read full article: “A perfect storm”: Drought, extreme heat and two faulty wells threaten a North Texas town’s water supply“We’re on the brink. We’re teetering. It’s a balancing act. It’s a 50/50 proposition,” said Gunter City Manager Rick Chaffin.
The Odessa water outage underscores a growing problem: Aging pipes in Texas cities are getting more fragile
Read full article: The Odessa water outage underscores a growing problem: Aging pipes in Texas cities are getting more fragileTexas had 3,866 water boil notices in 2021, the most in the last decade. Aging water systems threaten water supply and quality — and for many small towns across the state, they won’t be cheap to repair.
Tens of thousands of people in Odessa have endured nearly 48 hours without water to drink, wash or flush toilets
Read full article: Tens of thousands of people in Odessa have endured nearly 48 hours without water to drink, wash or flush toiletsThe outage left about 165,000 people without water in Odessa and some surrounding areas. It has been attributed to a main line break in the city’s aging water system and comes amid a dayslong heat wave.
Rural Texas was meant to get 10% of state bonds for water projects. A report shows it’s getting less than 1%.
Read full article: Rural Texas was meant to get 10% of state bonds for water projects. A report shows it’s getting less than 1%.Rural Texas communities often don’t have the resources, technical experience, or ability to take on large amounts of debt to pursue state funds for water supply and quality projects. So, many simply don’t apply.
Climate change is making Texas hotter, threatening public health, water supply and the state’s infrastructure
Read full article: Climate change is making Texas hotter, threatening public health, water supply and the state’s infrastructureA report from the state climatologist finds that the state is experiencing hotter days with less relief from high temperatures at night.
Water testing, flushing continues in Lake Jackson as ‘Boil water’ notice remains
Read full article: Water testing, flushing continues in Lake Jackson as ‘Boil water’ notice remainsResidents said they are thankful for the free cases of water bottles being given out at the Lake Jackson Rec Center but they are still frustrated after another week of a boil water notice. READ: Lake Jackson residents asked to conserve water usage as ‘Boil water’ notice remains“It’s just everything. City Manager Modesto Mundo said they are currently in the middle of a very intensive process of water monitoring, testing and flushing throughout Lake Jackson. This all comes after a 6-year-old boy died last month from a brain-eating amoeba after coming into contact with city water. And the latest blow just Sunday -- a soldier who helped give out bottled water tested positive for the coronavirus.
Lake Jackson residents asked to conserve water usage as ‘Boil water’ notice remains
Read full article: Lake Jackson residents asked to conserve water usage as ‘Boil water’ notice remainsHOUSTON – The city of Lake Jackson said the ‘Boil water’ notice could remain in place for another two weeks following the discovery of a potentially deadly amoeba in the water system. “We’re trying to get out of our boil water notice,” said city manager Modesto Mundo. To complete the latest process, Mundo is asking water customers to conserve. “We need the cooperation of everybody in our community and our businesses to lower the water usage as much as possible for outside water usage,” he said. The boil water notice impacts thousands of customers, including Sandra Crumrine.
Gov. Abbott issues disaster declaration for Brazoria County in response to deadly amoeba found in Lake Jackson water supply
Read full article: Gov. Abbott issues disaster declaration for Brazoria County in response to deadly amoeba found in Lake Jackson water supplyHOUSTON – Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for Brazoria County in response to Naeglera Fowleri, a deadly amoeba found in water samples taken from the City of Lake Jackson. A ‘Boil water’ notice is in place for Lake Jackson as authorities continue to flush and disinfect the water system back to normal. “The state of Texas is taking swift action to respond to the situation and support the communities whose water systems have been impacted by this ameba,” said Gov. “I urge Texans in Lake Jackson to follow the guidance of local officials and take the appropriate precautions to protect their health and safety as we work to restore safe tap water in the community.”View the Disaster Declaration.