Texas’ Drought Dilemma: Recycling Sewage into Tap Water
Texas has long been at the mercy of droughts, explosive population growth, and dwindling rivers. State planners warn that without new sources, supply may fall 18% short of demand by 2070. Under a “drought of record,” Texas could lack as much as 4.7 million acre-feet (MAF) per year by 2030 – roughly 20% of projected need – rising to 6.9 MAF by 2070 if no action is taken. Cities are already feeling the pinch: West Texas and Panhandle reservoirs sit near 25% capacity, and places like Corpus Christi and Brownsville have imposed restrictions on outdoor watering and construction to stretch supplies. Rapid urban growth – Texas’ municipal demand is expected to grow 63% by 2070 – only deepens the crisis. In short, climate change and soaring demand are straining Texas’ traditional water sources (groundwater and the Rio Grande), prompting engineers to turn to bold solutions. One solution is wastewater recycling, also known as potable reuse: treating sewage so thoroughly that it meets drinking-water standards....
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