Adam RollinsTexas has launched a $6 billion effort to safeguard long-term water security across Central and South Texas. Led by the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (GBRA), the WaterSecure Project could provide a sustainable solution for addressing the state’s water crisis.
A serious threat to water security looms over Texas, ranging from urban expansion to climate change to failing infrastructure. The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) determined there could be a severe water shortage by 2030 as pressures mount on the state’s rivers, aquifers, reservoirs and other sources. While demand is expected to increase by 17% by 2070, water supplies are projected to decrease by 11% in that time.
Officials launched the WaterSecure Project earlier this year to create a water supply system that will operate for decades, ensuring generations of Texans will benefit. More than 1 million people will be served by this initiative, as well as industrial clients, manufacturers, agricultural areas and municipal water utilities.
The GBRA will build a new reservoir as part of the project to store water from the Lower Guadalupe River. The project will build more than 250 miles of pipeline to transport stockpiled reserves across multiple counties. Additional plans will involve building a state-of-the-art water treatment facility, desalination plants and underground storage solutions.
If successful, the GBRA anticipates the new infrastructure will be fully operational, transporting 100,000 acre-feet of water each year by 2033. Plans are in place for further expansion by the 2040s to meet the demands of Texas’ growing population. The authority expects regional utilities will participate in supporting the project.
Officials anticipate WaterSecure Project supplies will be reliably available, even during drought periods. However, the project is still in its earliest stages, with more permitting and agreements needed to secure before finalization, particularly when it comes to property.
The project is the latest—and one of the most expensive—efforts to address Texas’ ongoing water crisis. As water infrastructure fails and supplies become limited, municipalities are
struggling to effectively manage water resources. In October 2024, the city of Laredo declared a state of disaster after E. coli was found in local water sources. Floresville endured similar challenges, illuminating recurring threats from disease and pollutants that can regularly affect drinking water.
Photo by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers via Wikimedia Commons
