Water scarcity is the most important issue the Texas Legislature will face this session. It’s not the most urgent issue—yet. But if left unaddressed, it will become an existential crisis for the state. Growth, drought conditions, and poor long-term planning are converging into a perfect storm that threatens agriculture, industry, and municipal supply.  Look at how the want of effective water management has exacerbated the Los Angelas fires to see a current example of the severe consequences of a poorly conceived water management plan.

Commissioner Miller is right—water scarcity is a growing problem that will only get worse. The state doesn’t have to act now, but the time is coming when the state must act.  Acting now gives time for careful contemplation and post action adjustments as necessary before the situation becomes an urgent crisis.

The Legislature must take bold action this session to develop a comprehensive statewide water strategy that incorporates modern solutions, removes outdated bureaucratic obstacles, and ensures a reliable, sustainable water supply for future generations.

The Big Picture: Where Will Texas Get Its Water?

Texas cannot continue relying on traditional surface water and groundwater sources. The two biggest realistic sources of additional potable water are sewage reuse (advanced water recycling), and desalination.

These technologies already exist and are improving in efficiency and cost-effectiveness. If Texas is serious about securing its water future, the state must:

Accelerate permitting and infrastructure investment for both sewage reuse and desalination.

Streamline regulatory approvals so that projects can be implemented before crisis conditions set in.

Develop incentives for private investment in alternative water sourcing.

The Legislature should also consider incorporating atmospheric water generation (AWG) technology into localized emergency water resilience plans.

The Role of Atmospheric Water Generation (AWG)

One of the biggest challenges in addressing Texas’ water crisis is that large-scale solutions like sewage reuse and desalination face significant political and logistical resistance. AWG won’t solve the problem, but it serves as a bridge strategy—helping communities prepare for shortages while building public awareness and acceptance of alternative water sources.  Atmospheric water generation (AWG) can serve as an important supplementary tool—especially for public awareness and emergency preparedness.

AWG is not a large-scale solution, but it has a proven history of use in Houston following natural disasters. Expanding its implementation in parks, public spaces, emergency shelters, and emergency response command nodes could provide several secondary benefits, including:

Raising public awareness of water scarcity – Seeing AWGs in operation educates the public on water resource limitations and helps build support for broader conservation efforts.

Providing emergency water access – AWGs can help supply clean water in parks, shelters, and other public spaces where infrastructure is lacking or has been disrupted.

Supporting the homeless population – Access to drinking water is often an issue for Houston’s homeless residents. AWGs could provide clean water without the need for traditional infrastructure.  This would also be an area where bipartisan support could be found and makes for easy political points for Republicans.

Provide water access in parks without water fountains – Many public parks lack adequate drinking water access, and AWGs could provide an alternative.  This will increase public awareness and acceptance of alternative water sources.

The state should consider pilot programs to deploy AWGs in targeted locations, particularly in urban areas prone to infrastructure failures and rural regions where well-water access is unreliable. While AWGs won’t solve Texas’ water crisis, they can serve as a stopgap measure that creates awareness and generates bipartisan goodwill while broader solutions are developed.

The Problem with Groundwater Districts

Groundwater conservation districts were a reasonable intermediate solution for managing local aquifers, but they have outlived their usefulness.

Instead of ensuring sustainable water use, many have become a barrier to efficient water allocation. Groundwater districts:
Create regulatory inefficiencies that prevent water from moving where it’s most needed.
Operate with inconsistent policies, leading to regional inequities in water access.
Discourage investment in new water projects due to unpredictable permitting and overlapping jurisdictional disputes.

Texas must move beyond groundwater districts and shift toward a cohesive statewide strategy that balances regional needs without stifling economic development.

A Statewide Plan Is Needed—Now

The Texas economy and population are growing too fast for a patchwork, reactionary approach to water. The Legislature needs to develop a statewide plan that:

Sets clear, long-term water conservation and allocation goals,
Invests in major infrastructure projects (sewage reuse, desalination, AWG in critical areas),
Removes outdated regulatory obstacles like groundwater district overreach, and
Incentivizes private-sector innovation in water sourcing and efficiency

If Texas does not create a comprehensive plan now, we will be left scrambling with fewer options and higher costs.

Houston’s West Texas Water Proposal: A Short-Term Fix, Not a Long-Term Solution

Houston is working on a plan to supply water to West Texas—a region that is already feeling the effects of prolonged drought and groundwater depletion.

While this may be a viable short-term solution if Houston’s water infrastructure is repaired, it is not sustainable long-term unless Houston’s water supply is expanded through additional potable water sources. Otherwise, we are simply robbing Peter to pay Paul, shifting water shortages from one part of the state to another.

Houston’s potential deal highlights a larger issue: Texas needs more water, not just better redistribution of existing supplies. Without new water sources, any attempt to move water around the state will eventually collapse under growing demand.

The Bottom Line: Texas Must Act Now

Texas cannot afford to wait until the next water crisis forces reactionary measures. The Legislature must stop kicking the can down the road and take proactive steps to secure Texas’ water future.

This means:

Prioritizing investment in sewage reuse and desalination
Eliminating regulatory barriers to water project development
Moving beyond outdated groundwater district regulations
Developing a long-term, statewide water management plan

Water is already Texas’ most pressing long-term issue. The only question is whether we will act while we still have options—or wait until a crisis forces our hand. We have the opportunity to act in a thoughtful, proactive, meaningful way and adjust as we go if we act now. The alternative is a reactionary, crisis-driven response—one that will come too late and at a much higher cost.