event 21 Aug 2018

Towards Bridging the Water Gap in Texas // A Water-Energy-Food Nexus Approach

By Bassel Daher, Sang-Hyun Lee, Vishakha Kaushik, John Blake, Mohammad H. Askariyeh, Hamid Shafiezadeh, Sonia Zamaripa and Rabi H.Mohtar. The 2017 Texas Water Development Board's State Water Plan predicts a 41% gap between water demand and existing supply by 2070. This reflects an overall projection, but the challenge will affect various regions of the state differently. Texas has 16 regional water planning zones characterized by distinct populations, water demands, and existing water supplies. Each is expected to face variations of pressures, such as increased agricultural and energy development (particularly hydraulic fracturing) and urban growth that do not necessarily follow the region's water plan. This study looks at this from a Nexus approach angle.

Nathan gonthier 410909 unsplash
https://unsplash.com/photos/3cJkWa70-DI (C) Nathan Gonthier / Unsplash

Great variability in resource distribution and competing resource demands across Texas will result in the emergence of distinct hotspots, each with unique characteristics that require multiple, localized, interventions to bridge the statewide water gap.

This study explores three such hotspots: 1) water-food competition in Lubbock and the potential of producing 3 billion gallons of treated municipal waste water and encouraging dryland agriculture; 2) implementing Low Impact Developments (LIDs) for agriculture in the City of San Antonio, potentially adding 47 billion gallons of water supply, but carrying a potentially high financial cost; and 3) water-energy interrelations in the Eagle Ford Shale in light of well counts, climate dynamics, and population growth.

The growing water gap is a state wide problem that requires holistic assessments that capture the impact on the tightly interconnected water, energy, and food systems. Better understanding the trade-offs associated with each ‘solution’ and enabling informed dialogue between stakeholders, offers a basis for formulating localized policy recommendations specific to each hotspot.

Highlights

  • Bridging Texas water gap requires multi-stakeholder, holistic, localized approaches.
  • Potential savings of 3 billion gal of water in Lubbock by treating water and dryland agriculture
  • Potential of adding 47 billion gallons to water supply in San Antonio by LID implementation
  • Economic advantages vs. impact on local water quality and quantity of Hydraulic Fracturing

Download

ScienceDirect website

Published

January 2019

In

Science of The Total Environment, Volume 647, 10 January 2019, pp449-463

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