The population and economy of Texas are growing at an unprecedented rate and to meet increasing water demands water planners and the Legislature are a considering diverse portfolio of supply sources to meet those needs. As decision-makers and communities consider seawater desalination as part of Texas’ water supply portfolio, we must ensure that meeting Texas’ water needs does not to compromise the health of Texas’ productive and treasured bays and estuaries.
Texas Living Waters has produced a paper that lays out Texas’ current desalination landscape along with specific areas of concern and recommendations on how to safely implement seawater desalination. As we consider implementing seawater desalination – a very expensive and complex engineering undertaking – we should acknowledge that it is not a risk-free, silver bullet solution and requires a careful approach.
The Texas coast is dotted with bays and estuaries that are vital for our state’s economy, delivering billions for our economy each year and helping to make tourism the third largest industry in Texas. Estuaries – where freshwater from rivers and salt water from the ocean meet – are some of the most biologically productive places on earth. Our bay ecosystems filter municipal and industrial waste discharges; support oysters, shrimp, and a host of fish and other species; and sustain wetlands that help protect our communities from intense storms and hurricanes.
Through avoiding locating intake and discharge facilities within the bays and estuaries and ensuring pre-construction, design, construction and ongoing monitoring are implemented with clear standards and criteria, decision-makers will protect the well-being of our communities and ecosystems while implementing solutions that will help all aspects of our economy grow well into the future.
Download our Desalination Factsheet and Paper to see how decision-makers can help ensure responsible deployment of new supply strategies such as seawater desalination so that our Texas coast, communities and wildlife can thrive.
