Future of Texas Water?

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1 Future of Texas Water? Charles Swanton Extension Program Specialist Guy Fipps, P.E. Professor and Extension Agricultural Engineer Irrigation, Water Management

2 Future Projections Texas population will increase from 25.4 M to 46.3 M Water demand will increase by 22%, from 18 million ac-ft to 22 million ac-ft Water availability will decrease by 10%, from 17 million ac-ft to 15.3 million ac-ft

3 Where does our water come from?

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7 CURRENT STATUS OF WATER

8 Mining (1.5%) 2010 Water Use In Texas By Category 18.3 Million Acre Feet Steam-Electric (4.1%) Livestock (1.9%) Manufacturing (10%) Municipal (26.1%) Irrigation (56.5%) Irrigation (56.5%) Municipal (26.1%) Manufacturing (10%) Mining (1.5%) Steam-Electric (4.1%) Livestock (1.9%)

9 Changes Over 10 Years

10 Projected Texas Water Supply By source 2010 (17,856,475 acre-feet) 2060 (14,614,156 acre-feet) Reuse (2.5%) Groundwater (47.7%) Reuse (2.0%) Groundwater (39.3%) Surface Water (50.3%) Surface Water (57.7%)

11 Water Use in Texas by Category Acre Feet Year Municiple Industrial Irrigation

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13 Water Supply/Demand (million ac-ft) Projected Water Supply/Demand and Population for Texas Population (millions of people) Total Demand Total Supply Year

14 Current Water Supply Update

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21 STATE WATER PLANNING

22 State Water Plan Available at: Plan to meet Texas water needs for the next 50 years

23 How do we plan? Texas has 16 regional water planning groups made of 20 members representing Agriculture, Industry, Public, Environment, Municipalities, Business, Water Districts, River Authorities, Water Utilities, Counties and Power Generation

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25 Projected Water Supply/Demand and Population Region H Houston Area Demand/Supply (million ac-ft) Population (million) Demand Supply Population

26 1.4 Projected Water Supply/Demand and Population Region G - Brazos Demand/Supply (million ac-ft) Population (million) Demand Supply Population

27 1.4 Projected Water Supply/Demand and Population Region K - Lower Colorado Demand/Supply (million ac-ft) Population (million) Demand Supply Population

28 Projected Water Supply/Demand and Population Region L - South Central Texas Demand/Supply (million ac-ft) Population (million) Demand Supply Population

29 Develop New Resources for Future Water Needs Future Sources: Reclaiming Desalination New Reservoir Construction CONSERVATION

30 Reclaiming Many utilities are making reclaimed water more available to replace potable water Landscaping Parks Other Irrigation

31 Desalination Projected to meet 10%-15% of demand in 2060 Regions H, L, M project desalination projects Seawater Desalination Brackish Goundwater Desalination (Wilcox Aquifer)

32 Proposed New Reservoirs

33 Conservation Water conservation is cheaper than development of new water resources Municipal water savings can be achieved by managing outdoor water use Irrigation Drought Management Programs Limiting Water Use

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35 Texas Water Law Surface Water and Groundwater are treated differently in Texas Surface water belongs to the State and is appropriated to users strictly regulated based on well understood laws and regulations Groundwater is associated with the land and land ownership Texas uses a management approach Direct regulation is limited

36 Texas Water Law Surface Water All surface water (except diffused water ) belongs to the state Diffused water (i.e., rainfall and runoff that is collected into a pond) belongs to the landowner Surface water is held in trust and appropriated to users through permits or water rights

37 Texas Water Law Surface Water Most of the surface water has already been appropriated to users, thus, few new water rights are available. Many water bodies/rivers are overappropriated; i.e. water rights exceed supply

38 Texas Water Law Surface Water Permits TCEQ regulates surface water TCEQ issues permanent permits (water rights) and temporary permits Temporary permits may be issued for water bodies that have no available water rights which are not yet being fully used

39 Texas Water Law Surface Water Permits During periods of low flow, water is given to water rights holders based on first in time (note: some excepts exist) Junior water right holders only get water after Senior water rights holders Some water bodies has special rules for allocation of water during periods of low flow (examples - Rio Grande River, Colorado River )

40 Texas Water Law Surface Water Permits Generally, water rights may be sold and transferred Water rights holders may sell their water (i.e. under contracts) to others Water rights holders must submit a water conservation plan to the TCEQ Rules allow for the cancelation of water rights if not beneficially used

41 Texas Water Law Enforcement of Water Rights Based on the honor system in most areas Watermaster Programs Rio Grande Concho South Texas

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44 Texas Water Law Groundwater Often referred to as a property right Often referred to in the press as the law of the biggest pump Based on the English common law document or the rule of capture where the landowner has the unlimited right to withdraw and make nonwasteful use of groundwater

45 Texas Water Law Groundwater Rules and regulations on groundwater in Texas have evolved through legislation and court rulings Texas has adopted the philosophy of local management of groundwater through groundwater conservation districts

46 Groundwater Conservation Districts

47 Groundwater Conservation Districts (GCD) Most GCD have the authority to Require well permits Minimum well spacing limitations on new wells Set production limits as long as such limits are applied equally district wide GCD are to share information and conservation plans within water management regions

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49 Priority Groundwater Management Areas (PGMA) The TWDB and TCEQ are required to identify areas in the state which Do not have a GCD Have current or future water supply/quality problems Require well permits Purpose is to encourage, then require that these areas form or join a GCD

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52 Special Groundwater Districts The Legislature has created two special districts with regulatory powers: Edwards Aquifer Authority Harris-Galveston and Ft Bend Subsidence

53 Exemptions to GCD s Wells providing water for mining, oil and gas exploration/operations are: Regulated by the Texas Railroad Commission exempt from rules of GCD

54 Texas Water Challenges Insufficient water supply to meet current and future demand Groundwater Depletion/ Water Quality Problems Droughts Insufficient funding for facilities, training and education Continued legal challenges to our groundwater management system

55 Environmental Challenges Much of the surface water rights from rivers and streams is already appropriated Increasing recognition of a need to maintain a minimum base flow to sustain various ecosystems, including marshes, estuaries and wetlands Surface water was largely appropriated without concern for base flow needs.

56 This presentation will be poster at: Questions??