Texas officials: We're running out of water
By JOHN McFARLAND, Associated Press Writer FORT WORTH, Texas — With the Texas population expected to nearly double over the next 50 years, lawmakers and water experts gathered Monday to convey an important message: We’re running out of water. There is no shortage of alarming statistics to make that point. Texas’ population of about 24.3 million is expected to hit about 45.5 million by 2060, and the water supply can’t come close to keeping pace. If the state were to experience major drought conditions with that many more people, officials estimate almost every Texan would be without sufficient water and there would be more than $90 billion in economic losses. “We’re going to have 18 percent less water than we do now if we don’t do anything,” said state Sen. Kip Averitt, chairman of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources. “Now what happens in a severe drought? Eighty-five percent of our citizens don’t have enough water to maintain a healthy lifestyle.” … People did get a recent reminder of how significant water is in the two years of severe drought that parched south-central Texas starting in September 2007. The drought cost about $3.6 billion in agriculture losses, prompted hundreds of water districts across the state to restrict water usage and dried up lakes and streams. People were comparing it to the drought of record in Texas in the 1950s. …
