Water is essential for Texas agriculture, particularly in the Rio Grande Valley. For decades, Texas has depended on Mexico to fulfill its obligations under a 1944 water treaty. However, recent shortfalls have left Texas short by over 900,000 acre-feet of water. "Mexico has now fallen behind, once again," said Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller. He emphasized that Texans need to take charge and secure their own water supply.
Miller criticized the Biden-Harris Administration's efforts in holding Mexico accountable but acknowledged the need for local action. "We all know better than to count on them to get the job done," he remarked. The water shortages have already led to significant economic impacts, including the closure of Texas' last sugar mill and struggles within the citrus industry.
To address these issues, Miller proposed several measures: capturing stormwater, reusing treated water, upgrading delivery systems, increasing storage capacity, and ensuring long-term water movement across Texas. He suggested funding these initiatives through resources like the Texas Water Development Board and various federal infrastructure programs.
Miller highlighted that aging irrigation systems are a major concern in both rural and urban areas. In some regions of the Rio Grande Valley, up to 40% of irrigation water is lost due to outdated infrastructure. Urban areas face similar challenges; six major cities lost 88 billion gallons of water last year due to outdated systems.
Rainwater harvesting was presented as a viable solution for managing stormwater effectively. "Instead, let’s turn that runoff into a valuable resource by capturing and storing it," Miller suggested.
Several cities were noted for their proactive measures in addressing water scarcity. Alice is set to open a brackish water treatment plant providing 2.7 million gallons of fresh drinking water daily. El Paso has significantly reduced its reliance on the Rio Grande River through wastewater treatment plants and pipeline replacements.
Miller also advocated for promoting xeriscaping and using brackish water instead of fresh water for fracking operations as additional strategies for conserving freshwater supplies.
Texas lawmakers are taking steps at the federal level as well. Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn, along with Representative Monica De La Cruz, have called out Mexico's failure to honor the treaty obligations. Nonetheless, Miller stressed that Texans must take initiative independently from Washington or Mexico: "It’s time for Texans to roll up our sleeves and take charge."
