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Water supply is major concern
Published June 16, 2009
Howdy, do we know where our water comes from and where will it come from in the future? In the 1950s, all of the water we used in Brazoria County came from wells.
Water, Water: Today, two-thirds of our water comes from surface water; mainly the Brazos River and some from the San Bernard River. This is the same trend for all of Texas; we are all using more surface water. As our population continues to grow, we will need more and more water.
The city of Corpus Christi now uses a 60-inch pipe to bring water from Lake Texana to their growing city. And, I don’t think it is downhill all the way. San Antonio has bought a lot of property outside of Bexar County to ensure water continues to flow into the Edwards Aquifer, its major source of water.
I am told 60 percent of Harris County’s water is used for watering lawns. Most of the water in our county is used for manufacturing purposes and most of that is used to cool chemical reactions.
Everywhere: All of the water flowing to the estuary, our bays, is provided by surface water. This water flows down our river, creeks, streams and bayous. Without this inflow, the bays would become saltier than the Gulf and the larval fish, shrimp and crabs would not be able to grow to adults. A lot would change in our marine environment.
Where will the water come from for our growing population? The same place it comes from now — the rain, and lately there hasn’t been much of that. We still get about 50 inches a year. They get less in South Texas, and that’s why the water pipes are so big and run so far. I know one thing, if the house wife turns the kitchen faucet and nothing comes out, the fish in the bay don’t have a chance.
But can you drink it? Houston says it has a plan for the next 50 years. By then, I bet they will be near Iowa Colony. Safe bet? The solutions will need to be big and bold because the amount of water we have has not and will not change.
The Commissioners Court has started looking into the dilemma, and I encourage you to support their efforts. We all need a solution.
Conservation of water might help in the short run and at home. Enough rain falls on most homes in the county to water all the gardens and plants at most homes. It’s not free because it cost something to store it in. More importantly, I think it changes how you think about water.
We started using a 32-gallon collector about four years ago. The only times it’s gone dry is when I left the water valve open and when I drained it to show a class my trash-can rain barrel.
The change in my attitude has been good, and the rest of the family has changed theirs, too.
Now take a child fishing, and think about good water.
Rich Tillman is the Brazoria County marine agent. Contact him at (979) 864-1564, or e-mail richt(at)brazoria-county.com.
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