Interested in signing on to the Water Infrastructure Funding Coalition? Email Sarah Kirkle.
Texas Should Invest in Water Infrastructure
Texas has an estimated $32.7 billion surplus heading into its 2024-2025 biennium, presenting a generational opportunity to help Texas invest in water, wastewater, and flood/stormwater projects. A coalition of Texas water associations and key water stakeholders strongly encourages the State to invest in water infrastructure as outlined below. We also strongly support the Legislative Appropriations Requests and exceptional items for the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and the Public Utility Commission of Texas, which point to the critical need for investment in the Texas water workforce.
Why is investment in water infrastructure needed?
Water Infrastructure Funding Needs
Texas has large, unmet water and wastewater infrastructure needs. State and federal financial assistance continues to pale in comparison to the billions needed for water infrastructure. Additional grants and longer loan repayment terms could help communities more cost-effectively finance water infrastructure projects to the beneft of ratepayers. In a recent survey, aging infrastructure was identified as the largest driver of new capital projects, followed by population growth and regulatory compliance. Needs exist across small, mid-size, and large regional projects to support both basic system maintenance and asset management, as well as new growth. Investment of state funds in water infrastructure - for both structural and nonstructural projects - is needed to ensure Texas communities can provide safe, clean water and keep up with growing demands into the future.
Flood and stormwater infrastructure funding is largely exhausted. TWDB received
over $2.4 billion in applications for the FIF, but the $793 million appropriated for projects will be exhausted soon. The state’s new regional flood planning process will cease after development of the state’s first state flood plan in 2024 if the state does not provide additional funding. Adding funds for both the planning process and project implementation would address infrastructure deficiencies, reduce inequality, and reduce risks to the public, first responders, and private property.
Investment in science and data is also needed to support water availability decisions and identify additional infrastructure needs. Up-to-date and accurate data in the form of Water Availability Models (WAMs), Groundwater Availability Models (GAMs), water loss reports, hydrologic and hydraulic models, and planning figures is important to inform how much water is available and what infrastructure projects are needed.
Additional Coalition Partners American Council of Engineering Companies American Flood Coalition American Society of Civil Engineers - Texas Section Associated General Contractors of Texas Association of Water Board Directors Environmental Defense Fund Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance Greater Houston Partnership Houston Stronger International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials Lower Rio Grande Valley Water District Managers Association Texas 2036 Texas Alliance of Energy Producers Texas Association of Clean Water Agencies Texas Business Leadership Council Texas Desalination Association Texas Farm Bureau Texas Flood Management Association Texas Ground Water Association Texas Nursery and Landscape Association Texas Municipal League Texas Living Waters Project Texas Society of Professional Engineers Water Finance Exchange |
Alliance Regional Water Authority Brazos River Authority Brookshire-Katy Drainage District CDM Smith Dallas Wetlands Foundation/Dallas Water Commons Delta Lake Irrigation District Dow East Rio Hondo Water Supply Corporation Franklin County Water District Garver USA Greater Texoma Utilities Authority Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority Gulf Coast Authority Gulf Coast Water Authority Halff Associates, Inc. Harlingen Irrigation District Invenergy Clean Water LAN, Inc. Lavaca Navidad River Authority | LRE Water North Harris County Regional Water Authority North Texas Municipal Water District Northeast Texas Municipal Water District Nueces River Authority Parsons Prairielands Groundwater Conservation District Red River Authority RSAH2O Sabine River Authority San Antonio River Authority San Antonio Water System San Jacinto River Authority Talley Water Supply Corporation Tarrant Regional Water District Texas Water Supply Partners Upper Neches River Municipal Water Authority Upper Trinity Regional Water District Wells Branch Municipal Utility District West Harris County Regional Water Authority 5engineering |