“Water, not Oil, is the lifeblood of Texas” -James A. Michener 2011 saw what was one of the driest seasons in Texas’ history, local climatologists are forcasting one of the worst droughts since the 1950’s when Texas rainfall dropped 30-50% lower than normal and temperatures rose to incredibly abnormal highs (Brown, Texas Punishing dry spells). As a result water supplies ran so low that many communities had to import water from outside states, many local farms and ranches failed and the state’s demographics became skewed due to the high number of relocated families (Brown). This drought and its effects were some of the worst since those seen in 1908 when Bowder springs was completely depleted, the Trinity River was pumped dry, and all water storage along the river proved inadequate (Turner, Long Range Water Supplies Plan). Due to the brevity of time available to find a solution, many studies have been enacted in efforts to find a viable solution to the potential water losses. We present to you in parts 1 and 2 our findings on possible scenarios for water conservation and outside resources should our current available resources become depleted.
Part 1: Solutions for Replenishing Depleted Local Water Resources
Sourcing Water from Local Aquifers
When many think of the valuable underground natural resources that are found in Texas, oil and natural gas are sure to be at the top the list for most people. And by and large they are correct, but there is one resource that is a part of every area of commerce and livelihood in Texas, Water. Fresh groundwater access and conservation is a present and future concern since studies and statistics show that groundwater amounts for 59% of the total state water supply, and 36% of municipal water supply (Ledbetter). A major source of this groundwater is the natural Texas aquifer. There are two major aquifers found in the North