Executive Summary

Population growth, drought, and climate change are straining the water supplies of Texas communities. Our state’s population is projected to double by 2060. Much of the state is in the throes of a prolonged drought. Climate experts are predicting that the U.S. Southwest will grow signifi cantly drier and hotter in the coming years. The combined challenges of climate change, drought and population growth make it clear that many Texas communities will be increasingly burdened with the responsibility of parceling out a diminishing supply of water to an increasing number of customers.

Nowhere in Texas are these issues more acute than in Central Texas - which is projected to grow at a faster rate than most of the state and is currently in the midst of extreme drought. This study analyzes the challenges posed by population growth, drought and climate change for water availability, as well as the responses to date of Central Texas communities in the Austin-Round Rock Metropolitan Statistical Area (Williamson, Travis and Hays Counties). Our analysis concludes that, while almost all communities within this area are taking additional steps to conserve water, few are embracing the full range of options readily available.

Evidence from decades of scientific scrutiny has overcome skepticism that mankind can alter the climate of the Earth. In 2001, the Intergovernmental Panel on climate change (IPCC) issued a scientifica assessment, concluding, "There is new and stronger evidence that most of the warming observed over the last fifty years is attributable to human activities."

This report (pdf), from the Connecticut Climate Coalition and Clean Water Fund, reviews Connecticut's progress on the Climate Change Action Plan released on February 15, 2005 looking at 14 critical policies which account for 91% of the total forecasted reductions ub 2010 and 93% of the total in 2020.

This report (pdf), from the Connecticut Climate Coalition and Clean Water Fund, reviews Connecticut's progress on the Climate Change Action Plan released on February 15, 2005 looking at 14 critical policies which account for 91% of the total forecasted reductions ub 2010 and 93% of the total in 2020.

The EPA estimates that $8 billion is needed in Massachusetts over the next 20 years to rehabilitate our aging drinking water infrastructure: $6.6 billion to replace aging water mains, $877 million for treatment plants, $622 million for water storage facilities, and $318.2 million to develop new sources for public drinking water supplies.

In this report (pdf), Clean Water Fund reviewed the Annual Statistical Reports filed by municipal water districts in 2006; even with 56 of 266 Community Water Systems' data unavailable, the figures show that in 2006 there were at least 1,970 leaks found which lost hundreds of millions of gallons of potable water from leaks in water mains.

On February 21, 2008, Clean Water Action and Clean Water Fund released What A Waste! (pdf) . Close to 3,000 Clean Water Action members participated in our survey, indicating they want curbside recycling and would be willing to help pay for it. Our recommendations to the City are clear - establish a city-wide curbside recycling program now and work with groups like Clean Water Action to resolve stormwater issues in the City.