Texas officials are asking voters to approve a $1 billion-per-year initiative to fund water projects as the state faces mounting pressure from drought, aging infrastructure, and rapid population growth.
Brady Dennis reports for The Washington Post.
In short:
- Governor Greg Abbott signed a bipartisan legislative package that will place a $20 billion water infrastructure investment referendum on the November ballot, starting in 2027 and funded through sales tax revenue.
- The plan includes both new water supply projects — like desalination and aquifer storage — and repairs to crumbling infrastructure, wastewater systems, and flood protections, with an additional $2.5 billion already earmarked for a state water fund.
- A report from policy group Texas 2036 warns that even this substantial investment falls short, estimating the state will need at least $154 billion over the next 50 years to secure reliable water access.
Key quote:
“We’ve got to plan decades out in order to be able to have the water supply for those generations of the future.”
— Cody Harris, state representative
Why this matters:
Water demand in Texas is surging as its population grows by more than 1,000 people a day and energy-intensive industries like data centers expand across the state. Yet, aging infrastructure and a history of underinvestment have left many communities vulnerable to dry taps, water main failures, and drought-related crop losses. Climate change is amplifying the stress, with longer, hotter dry spells depleting reservoirs and shrinking river flows. The risk isn't limited to rural farmers or small towns — cities and economic hubs face escalating threats, too.
Related: Texas company pursues fracking wastewater cleanup for agriculture amid drought
