AUSTIN, Texas —
The state's $1 billion Texas Water Fund is one step closer to implementation.
The Texas Water Development Board, the agency in charge of administering that money, heard from stakeholders on Wednesday.
The KVUE Defenders continue tracking water supply issues facing our state and Central Texas communities. Members of TWDB fielded questions in person and online during the meeting about how the money can help water issues in their communities.
More than four months ago, Texans approved a constitutional amendment that set aside $1 billion to create new water supplies, repair aging water infrastructure and fund a statewide water public awareness program.
This comes at a time when communities across Texas face depleting water supplies, made worse by population growth and persisting drought conditions.
Through the Texas Water Fund, the TWDB will provide funding through existing financial assistance programs with a focus on small and rural communities. Residents in the small neighborhood of Sumervale in Travis County know first-hand what water infrastructure issues can do.
Water experts have said that the $1 billion is just a fraction of the investment needed between now and 2070. That's when the state population is expected to increase by more than 70% from 29.7 million in 2020 to a projected 51.5 million in 2070, according to the Texas Water Development Board.
Water industry insiders estimate more than $150 billion is needed over the next 50 years. The $150 billion is the total cost of developing new water supplies, fixing drinking water systems and upgrading old wastewater systems.
Aging infrastructure is part of the reason water loss is a big problem in Texas. At least $250,000,000 must be used to create new innovative water supplies.
The public has until April 30 to give input about the Texas Water Fund.
A rule proposal for how to administer the $250,000,000 for new water supplies is expected this summer, at the earliest. The TWDB also outlined this fall as when stakeholders can start soliciting funds.