This document discusses water security challenges facing Texas and the role of science and technology in addressing them. It notes that while Texas has significant freshwater resources like rivers, reservoirs, and aquifers, projected water demands in 2060 are expected to exceed existing supplies. Key strategies to close the gap include increased water conservation, reuse, and the development of 26 new reservoirs to provide 1.5 million acre-feet of additional supply. Brackish groundwater is also discussed as a potential new source, but desalination faces challenges related to costs and impacts. Maintaining freshwater ecosystems and balancing competing water demands will also require policy innovations.

1. Water Security for Texas:
the Role of Science & Technology
Neal Wilkins
Director, Texas Water Resources Institute

2. Water Security – capacity to efficiently access an
adequate water resource, and the ability to
balance competing demands.

4. Freshwater Resources
• ~190,000 miles of rivers & streams
• 20% perennial flow.
• >200 major reservoirs ~1.2 million ac.
• 5 million acres of freshwater wetlands.
• 9 major aquifers & 21 minor aquifers.
• 1,292 named springs (~3,000 total).

5. Texas Water Withdrawals
• Total Water withdrawals of 26,770 million
gallons per day.
• Freshwater withdrawals are 88% of total.
• Surface water supplies 68% of all
withdrawals.
• Thermoelectric power withdrawals were
11,536 million gallons per day.
Source: USGS. 2005. Estimated use of water in the United States.

6. How Much Freshwater Consumed?
• Total Withdrawal.
– 26,770 Mgal/d – 11% Saline
• Total Freshwater
– 23,620 Mgal/d – 40% Thermoelectric Power
13,944 Mgal/d
About 14 billion gallons per day
Source: USGS. 2005. Estimated use of water in the United States.

7. 2010 Existing Supplies
Amount of water that can be produced with current permits, contracts, and existing infrastructure during drought
Municipal
4,851,201
Surface
8,427,432
Manufacturing
1,727,808
Mining
296,230
Existing Projected
Supplies Demand
16,983,205 Steam/Electric 18,010,599
733,179
Ground
8,073,609
Livestock
322,966
Reuse
482,164
Irrigation
10,079,215
Note: all values reported in acre-feet/year
Source: Texas Water Development Board 2012 State Water Plan (Draft)

8. 2060 Scenario
Amount of water that can be produced with current permits, contracts, and existing infrastructure during drought
Municipal
8,414,492
Surface
8,968,541
Manufacturing
2,882,524
Existing Projected
Supplies Demand
Mining
15,270,535 21,952,198
292,294
Ground
5,688,293 Steam/Electric
1,620,411
Livestock
371,923
Reuse
613,701
Irrigation
8,370,554
Note: all values reported in acre-feet/year
Source: Texas Water Development Board 2012 State Water Plan (Draft)

9. 2060 Existing Supplies vs. Projected Demands
Amount of water that can be produced with current permits, contracts, and existing infrastructure during drought
Municipal
8,414,492
Surface
8,968,541
Manufacturing
2,882,524
Existing Projected
Supplies Mining Demand
15,270,535 292,294 21,952,198
Ground Steam/Electric
5,688,293 1,620,411
Livestock
371,923
Reuse
613,701
Irrigation
8,370,554
* Dashed line denotes values from 2010.
Note: all values reported in acre-feet/year
Source: Texas Water Development Board 2012 State Water Plan (Draft)

10. 2060 Recommended Water Mgmt. Strategies
1,505,465
Irrigation
2,176,258 (24%)
Conservation
2,323,176
647,361
Municipal
23,432
Other
1,499,671
New Reservoirs
Projected
Supply
3,050,049
5,350,515 (59%)
with New
Strategies
New Sources
Other Surface Water
Projected 9,004,839
Shortfall $53 Billion
6,681,663
800,795
Ground Water
309,782 (4%)
Desalination Sea, Ground, Surface Water
915,589
1,168,284 (13%)
Reuse
Other Strategies
Conjunctive, Aquifer Storage, & Other 252,695
Note: all values reported in acre-feet/year

11. Water Conservation
About 25% of future unmet water demands
are anticipated from implementing
conservation technologies for water use
efficiency and programs resulting in
decreased demands on existing supplies.

12. Water Reuse
10% of future unmet water demands are
projected to come from reuse systems.
1 million acre-feet/year of new supply By
2060.

13. New Reservoirs
“The 2012 State Water Plan Recommends
26 reservoirs that would provide 1.5
million acre-feet of water during a repeat
of drought of record…”
“In the absence of these reservoirs, other
water management strategies would
simply not be enough to meet the needs
of Texans during a severe drought.”
Texas Water Development Board. 2011. Water for Texas 2012 State Water Plan – DRAFT.

14. 26 New Reservoirs – 2012 Water Plan
Area = 152,314 Surface Acres
Supply = 1,412,938 Ac-Ft/Yr
Cost = $12 Billion

15. 10 Largest New Reservoirs
Area = 115,633 Surface Acres
Supply = 1,102,176 Ac-Ft/Yr
Cost = $9 Billion

16. Brackish Groundwater – A new source?
Brackish groundwater in TX ~ 2.7 billion acre-feet
– Not all is accessible
– 56% in South and West Texas [Regions L (15%), M
(15%), F (14%), and N (12%)]
– 2/3 is slightly brackish (1,000-3,000 ppm TDS) & ideal
for desal.
Sources:
LBG-Guyton Associates, 2003, Brackish groundwater manual for Texas regional water planning groups: Contract report prepared for the Texas Water
Development Board, Austin, Texas, 188 p. Available at (http://www.twdb.state.tx.us/RWPG/rpgm_rpts/2001483395.pdf).
NRS Consulting Engineers, 2008, Guidance Manual For Brackish Groundwater Desalination in Texas: Contract report prepared for the Texas Water
Development Board, Austin, Texas. Available at (http://www.desal.org/desaldemo/Desal%20PDFs%20for%20Site/GM%20-%20Full.pdf).
Texas Living Waters Project, 2009, Brackish Groundwater Desalination, Issue Paper 2: Prepared by National Wildlife Federation, Sierra Club, and
Environmental Defense Fund. Available at: (http://www.texaswatermatters.org/pdfs/issure_no2_brack.pdf)

17. Brackish Groundwater – Challenges
• Issues with brackish groundwater desal.:
– Costs / Energy requirements ($1.50/Kgal to
$2.75/Kgal; $410-847/acre-ft)
– Potential impacts to interconnected water resources
(i.e. freshwater portions of aquifers)
– Regulatory framework for management (i.e. GWCDs)
– Brine disposal
Sources:
LBG-Guyton Associates, 2003, Brackish groundwater manual for Texas regional water planning groups: Contract report prepared for the Texas Water
Development Board, Austin, Texas, 188 p. Available at (http://www.twdb.state.tx.us/RWPG/rpgm_rpts/2001483395.pdf).
NRS Consulting Engineers, 2008, Guidance Manual For Brackish Groundwater Desalination in Texas: Contract report prepared for the Texas Water
Development Board, Austin, Texas. Available at (http://www.desal.org/desaldemo/Desal%20PDFs%20for%20Site/GM%20-%20Full.pdf).
Texas Living Waters Project, 2009, Brackish Groundwater Desalination, Issue Paper 2: Prepared by National Wildlife Federation, Sierra Club, and
Environmental Defense Fund. Available at: (http://www.texaswatermatters.org/pdfs/issure_no2_brack.pdf)

18. Challenges
–Conflicting Objectives
–Climate Uncertainty
–Energy : Water Nexus
–Sustaining Freshwater Ecosystems
–Loss of rural lands

20. Climate Uncertainty
Source: John Nielson-Gammon

21. Climate Uncertainty
Source: John Nielson-Gammon

22. Climate Uncertainty

23. Energy : Water Nexus
It takes energy to produce water.
It takes water to produce energy.

24. Maintaining Freshwater Ecosystems
• 250 species of fish and rich aquatic life –
supporting the state’s wildlife resource.
• Multi-billion dollar recreational resource.
• Valuable (but yet to be priced) ecosystem
services.

25. Loss of Agricultural Lands
1997-2007
•2.1 Million Acres Converted
•40% of conversion in the top 25
high-growth counties.
Land “Consumption” Rates
270 acres per 1000 new residents.

26. Areas of Recommitment
1. support advances in water conservation and
technology development required to implement the
Texas State Water Plan;
2. assess new technologies to improve efficiency of
water use for agriculture and municipal irrigation;
3. provide research and development of best
management practices for water reuse,
desalination, rainwater capture, and other
advances for optimizing water use;

27. Areas of Recommitment
4. develop and assess new technologies for meeting
wastewater standards and water use efficiency
associated with energy development;
5. provide resources for outreach, extension, for
innovations in water conservation and emerging
technologies; and
6. conduct economic and policy analyses directed at
adoption of new technologies.

28. Policy Innovations
–Standardize water accounting (e.g.
footprinting).
–Develop pricing approaches that reflect
the full cost-of-service.
–Clear & secure ownership rights.
–Support markets that assign value to
freshwater ecosystems.
–Incentivise Land & Water Stewardship

29. http://twri.tamu.edu/

30. Backup Slides

31. Recently Petitioned Species
Texas fatmucket – E.P. Smooth pimpleback – P.O.S.
False spike – E.P. Texas fawnsfoot – C.T.
Golden orb – E.P. Texas heelsplitter – P.W.
Texas pimpleback – E.P. Louisiana pigtoe – P.W.
Salina mucket – S.T.P. Triangle pigtoe – P.W.
Mexican fawnsfoot – S.T.P.
Golden orb Triangle pigtoe

32. Golden orb
Known range:
Guadalupe, San
Antonio, Colorado,
Brazos, and Nueces-
Frio River systems

33. Triangle pigtoe
Known range:
Neches and San
Jacinto River basins

34. Range Overlap of Petitioned Mussels

36. 1997-2007
22% Population Growth
Increase of 4.3 Million
Forecasts for 2020
30.25 Million
6.5 Million added.

37. 1997-2007
85% of Population Growth in
25 High-growth Counties.
40% of Rural Land Loss
occurred in 25 High-growth
Counties.
861,765 ac lost

38. Land “Consumption” Rates
270 acres per 1000 new
residents.