By 2080, a fast-growing part of Texas could face an annual water shortfall equivalent to the yearly consumption of as many as 50,000 Texas households. Demand could exceed supplies by roughly 5 billion gallons.
Housing development and industrial demand are straining the region’s water supplies, prompting county leaders to consider how to close the projected gap.
Here’s what to know
Travis County commissioned Freese and Nichols, Inc. and Richards Consulting to assess water supplies and future demand in its Eastern Crescent, KXAN reported. The region follows the State Highway 130 corridor, east of Austin and Interstate 35.
“Growth in this area has outpaced infrastructure investments, increasing the need for more robust and coordinated water supply planning,” the study said…