Greta Jimenez
Texas has been facing a water crisis, with a projected water shortage by 1985, and the state is struggling to secure its water future. The state has the dubious distinction of being the biggest emitter of toxic substances into its waterways, with 16.7 million pounds of toxic substances released into Texas water in 2020. To combat this, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has implemented several programs to improve water quality, such as the Water Quality Program, which includes the Nonpoint Source Program (NPS Program) and the Galveston Bay Plan. The Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) is also working to reduce bacteria concentrations in impaired streams. Additionally, the Nature Conservancy has been working to protect and preserve the state's water supply since 1964, and Clean Water Action is advocating for stronger regulations for the hydraulic fracturing industry. Despite these efforts, Texas still faces significant challenges in ensuring clean and abundant water for its residents, with a projected statewide water shortage by 2070 that could result in substantial economic losses.
Initiatives to Stop Water Pollution in Texas
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Water Quality Program | The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) oversees programs to ensure safe management of pollutants in Texas surface waters. |
| Bacteria Monitoring | The Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) aims to reduce bacteria in impaired streams in the Bacteria Implementation Group (BIG) project area. |
| Galveston Bay Plan | The GBEP Implementation Tracking Viewer is a web mapping application that allows users to view projects implementing actions from The Galveston Bay Plan, 2nd Edition. |
| NPS Management Program | The NPS Program provides federal funding to address nonpoint sources of water pollution, jointly administered by TCEQ and the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board (TSSWCB). |
| Clean Water Act | Clean Water Action works to protect drinking water, prevent waste and pollution, and promote clean energy and climate solutions in Texas. |
| Environmental Leadership | Luke from Environment Texas has been a leading voice for clean air and water, helping to secure protection for natural areas and reduce air pollution from refineries and chemical plants. |
| Water Infrastructure | Texas has a history of damming rivers, creating pipelines, and developing industrial engineering projects along the Gulf Coast to support its water supply and economy. |
| Water Diversion | The 1968 Texas Water Plan proposed diverting water from the Mississippi River to address projected water shortages, but it was not approved by voters. |
| Water Grid | State Senator Charles Perry has proposed a multibillion-dollar statewide "water grid" to address looming water shortages and ensure a consistent water supply. |
| Water Conservation | The Nature Conservancy has worked to protect and preserve Texas's freshwater ecosystems and water resources, focusing on river restoration and species conservation. |
| Water Pollution Sources | Texas faces water pollution from factory farms, cities, industrial discharges, toxic dumping, and emerging threats like PFAS "forever chemicals" and plastic pollution. |
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What You'll Learn
- The Nature Conservancy has been working to protect Texas's water supply since 1964
- The Houston-Galveston Area Council aims to reduce bacteria in impaired streams
- The Texas Water Plan aims to prevent a water shortage by creating a statewide water grid
- The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality oversees programs to manage pollutants
- Clean Water Action works to protect drinking water and prevent waste and pollution
The Nature Conservancy has been working to protect Texas's water supply since 1964
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has been working to protect Texas's water supply since 1964. As Texas grows, securing its water future remains critical to sustaining the state's health and resilience. The Nature Conservancy in Texas has conserved over 1 million acres of land and more than 200 miles of rivers and streams. Their efforts benefit nearly a dozen different waterways around the state, including the Devils, Blanco, Trinity, Brazos, Frio, Nueces, Sabinal, Llano, San Saba, and Pedernales rivers; Barton, Independence, and Love creeks; and Caddo Lake.
TNC has established projects on nearly every major river in Texas and five major springs. They have a network of 37 nature preserves in Texas, representing 100,000 acres, which serves as a field lab for developing best practices for water management and land protection in collaboration with partners, landowners, conservation organizations, businesses, and government agencies.
TNC works with landowners, ranchers, and farmers across Texas to implement solutions to conserve water and other key natural resources. They promote conservation by making agriculture more efficient, productive, and economically sustainable. This includes redistributing water, improving irrigation efficiency and soil management, reducing water loss in delivery systems, and shifting to less water-intensive crops.
In addition to TNC's efforts, Texas has implemented other measures to address water pollution and secure its water supply. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) administers the NPS Program, which provides federal funding to help watershed stakeholders address nonpoint sources of water pollution. The Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) aims to reduce bacteria concentrations in impaired streams in the Bacteria Implementation Group (BIG) project area. The Clean Water Act has also played a role in protecting Texas waterways, although there are concerns that the U.S. Supreme Court may narrow its scope, making it harder to reduce pollution.
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The Houston-Galveston Area Council aims to reduce bacteria in impaired streams
Water pollution in Texas is a pressing issue, with the state ranking 1st in the US for toxic dumping in waterways. The Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) is taking a proactive approach to address this issue, particularly in relation to reducing bacteria in impaired streams. H-GAC's efforts are focused on the Bacteria Implementation Group (BIG) project area, which includes Oyster Creek. Oyster Creek has been found to have elevated levels of bacteria, making it unsafe for contact recreation and potentially impacting aquatic life.
The H-GAC aims to reduce bacteria concentrations in these impaired streams through several initiatives. One key initiative is the Targeted Bacteria Monitoring project, which involves investigating bacteria sources in the most bacteria-impaired waterways in the BIG project area. H-GAC has partnered with the Bayou Preservation Association and utilised Student Conservation Association interns to target sites within the top 10 most impaired assessment units (AUs) within the project area. Samples taken from these sites have shown high levels of E. coli, exceeding the state's primary freshwater contact recreation standard.
The council is also working with local jurisdictions to reduce or eliminate bacteria sources. This includes implementing the Oyster Creek Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Project, which measures bacteria levels and identifies ways to lower them. The council uses indicator species of bacteria, such as E. coli for freshwater and enterococci for saltwater, to monitor water quality and determine the maximum amount of pollutant allowed to ensure water quality standards are met.
In addition to its work with the Bayou Preservation Association, H-GAC is also collaborating with various organisations through the BIG. These include the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board, Harris County, and the City of Houston, among others. The BIG coordinates public participation in improving Houston-area waterways, with open meetings and accessible meeting records. Furthermore, H-GAC's broader goals extend beyond bacteria reduction, encompassing areas such as air quality, economic development, and emergency preparedness.
The H-GAC's efforts to reduce bacteria in impaired streams are part of a larger context of water conservation and pollution reduction initiatives in Texas. The state has proposed expensive and ambitious plans to secure its water supply, including the Texas Water Plan, which involves creating a statewide "water grid". Additionally, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) administers federal funding through the NPS Program to support watershed stakeholders in addressing nonpoint sources of water pollution. TCEQ also works on projects like the Galveston Bay Plan, funded in part by the Environmental Protection Agency, to improve water quality in the region.
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The Texas Water Plan aims to prevent a water shortage by creating a statewide water grid
Texas has a long history of grand-scale engineering projects, from damming rivers for flood control and drinking water, to its extensive system of oil and gas pipelines, and the industrial engineering of its Gulf Coast. However, Texas is facing a water crisis. Lawmakers from both parties agree that the state is running out of water, and a state water plan developed in 1968 projected that Texas would run out of water by 1985 if no action was taken.
The Texas Water Plan, or a modern version of it, has been revived by state Senator Charles Perry, a Lubbock Republican, to address this critical issue. The plan aims to prevent a water shortage by creating a statewide water grid, moving water from where it is to where it is needed, typically from wet East Texas to the drier west. This would involve a multibillion-dollar investment in a state-owned, state-run grid of pipelines, replacing the current local patchwork of water systems, including reservoirs, treatment plants, and distribution networks. Senator Perry has also proposed investing in desalinating Gulf water, cleaning up fracking water, and injecting fresh water underground for storage.
The cost of implementing such a plan is expected to be high, with estimates ranging from $30 billion (adjusted for inflation) for the 1968 plan to $162 billion for the latest proposal, according to the Texas Water Infrastructure Network (TXWIN). Despite the potential benefits of ensuring a stable water supply for Texas, critics have pointed to the enormous financial, energy, and environmental costs of such a water grid. The vague talk of out-of-state water purchases and the impracticality of the plan have also been highlighted.
While the Texas Water Plan focuses on preventing water shortages, other efforts are also being made to address water pollution in the state. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) administers the Nonpoint Source (NPS) Program, which provides federal funding to support Watershed Protection Plans (WPPs). The Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) is working to reduce bacteria concentrations in impaired streams, and the Texas Living Waters Project advocates for smart water investments and citizen engagement in the water planning process.
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The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality oversees programs to manage pollutants
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is the environmental agency for the state of Texas. It was created by the Texas Legislature in 1991 by combining the Texas Water Commission and the Texas Air Control Board. The TCEQ is the fourth-largest environmental agency in the United States, employing about 2,780 people across 16 regional offices and carrying a $420 million operating budget for the 2016 fiscal year.
The TCEQ has faced criticism for not always complying with federal environmental standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In 2010, they were sued by The Aransas Project (TAP), a nonprofit focused on water conservation. Additionally, the TCEQ proposed regulating pollution caused by plastic pellets called "nurdles", but backed down due to industry pressure.
Despite these challenges, the TCEQ has made efforts to improve water quality in Texas. The NPS Program, jointly administered by the TCEQ and the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board (TSSWCB), provides federal funding to help watershed stakeholders address nonpoint sources of water pollution. The Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC), in collaboration with the Bacteria Implementation Group (BIG), aims to reduce bacteria concentrations in impaired streams. The Targeted Bacteria Monitoring project investigates bacteria sources in the most impaired waterways and works with local jurisdictions to mitigate those sources.
The TCEQ also oversees the Take Care of Texas campaign, which encourages Texans to reduce their environmental impact. During Hurricane Harvey in 2017, the TCEQ played a crucial role in keeping the public informed by providing real-time updates on air-monitoring data, the status of public water systems, and other relevant information.
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Clean Water Action works to protect drinking water and prevent waste and pollution
Despite the CWA's clear benefits, many water bodies still do not meet clean water standards. Agricultural runoff, which the CWA does not regulate, is the leading cause of water bodies failing to meet quality standards. Runoff pollution from urbanizing areas is also a growing problem. In 2023, the Supreme Court removed protections for two-thirds of America's wetlands and millions of miles of streams, which will have a detrimental effect on water quality and wildlife.
In Texas, water pollution comes from a variety of sources, including runoff from factory farms and cities, and direct discharges from industries. Texas ranks first in the US for toxic dumping in waterways, and plastic pellets called "nurdles" are polluting beaches and threatening wildlife. To combat this, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has implemented the NPS Program, which provides federal funding to help stakeholders address nonpoint sources of water pollution. The Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) is also working to reduce bacteria concentrations in impaired streams, with 91% of samples above the state's primary freshwater contact recreation standard for E. coli.
Additionally, Texas has proposed expensive plans to save its water supply, including the 1968 Texas Water Plan to divert water from the Mississippi River and the more recent idea of a statewide "water grid" to ensure Texas never worries about water again. While these plans are controversial due to their financial, energy, and environmental costs, they highlight the urgency of addressing water issues in the state.
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Frequently asked questions
The Texas Water Plan is a proposal to address the state's water shortage issues. It involves diverting water from the Mississippi River, moving it across Louisiana, and then using nuclear energy to pump it uphill to various locations in Texas. The plan includes the construction of vast reservoirs in East Texas to store the water. The estimated cost of this plan is about $90 billion.
The TCEQ oversees programs to manage pollutants that may enter Texas surface waters, including permitting, monitoring, and compliance enforcement. They process water quality permit applications, including those from large refineries and chemical plants, to ensure that discharges meet Texas Surface Water Quality Standards. The TCEQ also administers the NPS Program, which provides federal funding to address nonpoint sources of water pollution and supports the development and implementation of Watershed Protection Plans (WPPs).
The Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC), in collaboration with the Bacteria Implementation Group (BIG), aims to reduce bacteria concentrations in impaired streams. The project involves investigating bacteria sources and working with local jurisdictions to reduce or eliminate those sources. The Nature Conservancy in Texas has also been working to protect and preserve the state's water supply since 1964, focusing on freshwater ecosystems and water resources.
Texas faces several challenges in reducing water pollution. The state has a lax regulatory environment, making it easy to permit new polluting facilities and difficult to enforce fines for violations. Additionally, there is a lack of transparency regarding the specific toxic components released by industrial polluters. Texas ranks 1st in the U.S. for toxic dumping in waterways, and emerging threats such as PFAS "forever chemicals" and plastic pellet pollution further complicate efforts to improve water quality.
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