Does Texas Have The Water To Sustain Its Growth ?

Just read some interesting stats in the Star-Telegram about Texas' water problems. As most people already know, we are in the middle of a prologed drought. Some are predicting that the drought, and future droughts, may be measured in decades instead of months. Does Texas have enough water to get its current population through the drought AND sustain the rapid growth it is experiencing?

Current projections say Texas will double its population by the year 2060. There is no way that current water available could handle that population. Some say as many as four new reservoirs are needed just for the north Texas area. Others are talking about pumping water in from other locations. Whatever the source, Texas does need to find or create new sources of water.

But is that really all that can be done? Maybe Texas needs to reconsider how it uses the water it has available. It may be heresy to say this, but are lawns really neccessary in a state with water problems? Texas uses many millions of gallons of water each year just to water our lawns. One landowner in Highland Park uses over a million gallons a month just by himself, and he is not alone.

I understand that lawns look pretty and add to the value of a house. But with our water problems being long-term problems, this is the kind of lifestyle change that Texans need to at least start discussing. There aren't a lot of options. If we don't use the water we have in a better and more efficient way, in addition to finding new sources of water, population growth will stop in Texas. It will have to stop, because there won't be enough water.