Latest news with #TexasWaterDevelopmentBoard
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Flood risk in hard-hit Texas co. no secret to officials, newly released records show
Officials in Central Texas were well aware of the risk of life-threatening flooding long before the deadly July 4 floods, according to records obtained by ABC News. 'Kerr County and the Hill Country have a greater risk of flash flooding than most regions of the United States. This region of Texas is known as Flash Flood Alley because of the area's steep terrain, shallow soil, and unusually high rainfall rates,' a grant application submitted to the state of Texas by the Upper Guadalupe River Authority (UGRA) last year said. 'Heavy rains can quickly result in high walls of fast moving water with great destructive potential.' The UGRA used the region's history of overflowing riverbanks in an attempt to receive $1 million in funding from the Flood Infrastructure Fund to fully cover the cost of a project called the 'Kerr County Flood Warning System.' ABC News obtained the documents submitted by the authority to the Texas Water Development Board through a public records request. MORE: 'I need somebody to take me seriously': More 911 calls released from Texas floods More than 130 people died in the Texas Hill Country as a result of the flooding last month. But the records confirm that fears about what could happen if water from the Guadalupe River surged above the riverbanks date back generations. 'Since 1932, approximately 35 lives have been lost in floods in Kerr County. Many of those lost were in vehicles attempting to cross flooded roads,' the authority's application stated. In its attempt to receive state funding, the UGRA included this overview: "July 18, 1987 ‐ 10 children drowned when the church camp bus they were traveling in was swept off a low water crossing in eastern Kerr County. September 15, 1996 ‐ A 63-year-old man drowned as he attempted to cross the North Fork of the Guadalupe River along FM 1340. The flooding along the North Fork was caused by a 2 to 3 inch rainfall the previous night. November 3, 2000 ‐ A 82-year-old woman drowned in her vehicle in the Guadalupe River near Center Point in the early morning hours. The vehicle was swept off the roadway into the Guadalupe River, and she was unable to escape. April 15, 2010 ‐ A long time Hunt, Texas resident was headed home from a local school board meeting when he tried to cross a flooded low water crossing. His truck was swept off FM 1340 by floodwaters and his body was discovered several days later about a mile downstream at another low water crossing. May 26, 2016 ‐ A woman died when the car she was riding in was swept off a roadway into Cypress Creek in eastern Kerr County. Her body was discovered eight miles downstream. The driver made it to shore and the other occupant was rescued from a tree.' The proposed flood warning system was recommended by engineers eight months after the 2016 death. The study pointed out that Bexar County, home of San Antonio, had similar technology already in place. 'The system will be utilized for mass notification to citizens and visitors about high water levels and flood roadway conditions throughout Kerr County,' the application said, describing plans for high water detection systems at 10 low water crossings in the area. 'Each high water detection system would consist of a master gauging station at the site which would transmit a coded signal to an advance warning system remote station. The signal would then be transmitted to a radio tower that converts the data so that local agencies can collect and process the information.' MORE: Texas flood: Kickoff meeting for Kerr County warning system project had been planned for mid-July The records show that in October 2024, the UGRA declined to continue applying for funding from the Flood Infrastructure Fund, with Executive Director Tara Bushnoe writing that the project would have been 'only eligible for a 5% grant.' 'Kerr County's topography, shallow soils, and history of unusually high rainfall rates make our area vulnerable to flash floods. UGRA and our community partners remain committed to improving monitoring of flood events, detection of hazardous road conditions, and notification of citizens,' Bushnoe wrote. 'We will continue to explore options to implement a Kerr County flood warning system and financial assistance opportunities.' As ABC News previously reported, the UGRA later reached an agreement with a company called Kisters to develop a flood warning system that would have consisted of "a centralized dashboard to support local flood monitoring and emergency response.' MORE: Some former Texas county officials thought informal phone calls, not sirens, would be sufficient in a flood The agreement, which was signed exactly one month before the July 4 floods, said that the project was expected to cost $58,375 in labor costs along with a $14,600 fee for one year of software costs. A kick-off meeting was scheduled for mid-July, but the plans were put on hold after the floods. ABC News' Josh Margolin contributed to this report.
Business Wire
30-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Seven Seas Water Group and City of Alice Celebrate
ALICE, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Seven Seas Water Group ('SSWG'), a multinational provider of Water-as-a-Service® ('WaaS®') solutions, in partnership with the City of Alice, proudly commemorated the official launch of Texas' first public-private brackish water reverse osmosis desalination facility. The 'First Water Celebration', held on July 29, 2025, marked a historic moment for the city as the plant delivers a drought-resilient source of clean, safe, and potable water to local residents. 'By transforming brackish groundwater into a safe and reliable source of drinking water, we're helping cities build resilience and independence in the face of growing water challenges," said Henry Charrabé, CEO of Seven Seas Water Group. Share The event brought together elected officials and community stakeholders to celebrate a groundbreaking advancement in sustainable water infrastructure. The milestone represents a powerful step forward in addressing regional water scarcity through innovation and collaboration. This facility, when delivering at full capacity, will provide up to 2.7 million gallons per day of high-quality drinking water, significantly enhancing water security in a region impacted by prolonged drought. Supported by the Texas Water Development Board, the project exemplifies a forward-thinking solution that can be replicated across other communities facing similar environmental challenges. "This project in Alice represents a blueprint for how communities can take control of their water future,' said Henry Charrabé, CEO of Seven Seas Water Group. 'By transforming brackish groundwater into a safe and reliable source of drinking water, we're helping cities build resilience and independence in the face of growing water challenges. We're incredibly proud to see this plant already delivering real results and benefits to the local population. We extend our sincere thanks to the team at the City of Alice, local leaders, the Texas Water Development Board, and every partner, engineer, and team member who brought this vision to life." The new plant harnesses cutting-edge reverse osmosis technology to provide a long-term, environmentally responsible solution to water scarcity. As the first public-private partnership of its kind in Texas focused on brackish water treatment, the project introduces the state to the benefits of the Water-as-a-Service® model, which enables rapid deployment of water infrastructure without requiring upfront capital. 'This facility marks a significant leap forward for our city,' said Michael Esparza, City Manager of Alice. 'It's more than infrastructure—it's a promise to our community that we are investing in a secure, sustainable future. By leveraging advanced desalination technology and trusted partnerships, we are strengthening our resilience, protecting public health, and enabling long-term economic growth. This success is the result of visionary collaboration, and we are proud to stand alongside Seven Seas Water Group and the Texas Water Development Board in leading this charge.' The Alice Brackish Water Desalination Plant stands as a scalable model for future water solutions across Texas and the nation. With demand for reliable water infrastructure growing, public-private partnerships like this one will be essential to safeguarding communities in the face of climate uncertainty and resource constraints. About Seven Seas Water Group Headquartered in Tampa, with operations across the U.S., Caribbean, and Latin America, Seven Seas Water Group (SSWG) delivers annually over 20 billion gallons of water to industrial, commercial, governmental, municipal, and hospitality customers. SSWG designs, builds, owns and operates, delivers new facilities, or acquires and upgrades existing facilities, with the goal of optimizing project risk transfer between the public and private sectors. With an outstanding reputation for decentralized water and wastewater treatment solutions, the SSWG 'Water-as-a-Service®' approach seeks to help solve global water and wastewater infrastructure challenges.
Axios
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Texas state leaders didn't prioritize flood management
As Texas state leaders have prioritized spending on border security and property tax cuts, they have been far more reluctant to fund flood management efforts. Why it matters: Texas leads the nation by a wide margin in flood deaths. More than 1,000 people died in Texas floods from 1959 to 2019, according to an academic analysis, most having occurred in the Hill Country. Local officials in areas like Kerr County have struggled to secure funding for basic warning systems and have instead relied on National Weather Service text alerts and word-of-mouth to alert residents of flooding, rather than costly outdoor siren systems. The big picture: Despite Texas' vulnerability, the state didn't complete a comprehensive statewide assessment of flood risk and solutions until last year. "Planning, in the long term, is going to save lives; it's going to protect people; it's going to reduce misery ... not just in monetary costs but also in human suffering," Reem Zoun, the director of flood planning for the Texas Water Development Board, told members of the board last August. "What we do will not eliminate flooding. If we have large storms, we're still going to flood — but if we work properly and proactively, and have appropriate floodplain management practices, we will see less impact." By the numbers: Though the Texas Water Development Board has identified more than $54 billion in needed flood-control projects, lawmakers have only allocated roughly $669 million so far, the New York Times reported Monday. This year, the Legislature approved $2.5 billion for the Texas Water Fund — used to finance water projects in Texas, including conservation, desalination, and flood mitigation — with the possibility of $1 billion per year over 20 years using sales tax revenue, pending voter approval in November. Lawmakers also passed Senate Bill 1967, expanding projects that can be awarded from the Texas Flood Infrastructure Fund. One key proposal, House Bill 13, would have created a state council to establish a unified disaster response and alert system, but it stalled in the Senate after some Republican lawmakers questioned its cost. The bill would have required the council to consider the use of outdoor warning sirens and implement an emergency alert system. "I can tell you in hindsight, watching what it takes to deal with a disaster like this, my vote would probably be different now," state Rep. Wes Virdell, a Republican who represents Kerr County, told the Texas Tribune. Zoom in: In the Hill Country, technological and infrastructure barriers have slowed adoption of modern flood alerts. Kerrville officials explored installing a warning system in 2017 but rejected the idea over its price tag. The county later missed out on a $1 million grant and, as recently as 2023, was still weighing other funding options, according to KXAN. Outdoor emergency sirens may have given people more time to escape, former Kerr County commissioner Tom Moser told the New York Times, but a single siren can cost as high as $50,000. What's next: Gov. Greg Abbott indicated Sunday that he'll include the notification issue on the upcoming special session agenda.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New Legislation By Gov. Abbott Bolsters Texas Water Infrastructure Investment
(Texas Scorecard) – Gov. Greg Abbott signed legislation aimed at increasing funding for Texas' water infrastructure on Wednesday at the Engineering Products Facility in Lubbock. Senate Bill 7 places oversight and funding for water infrastructure development under the purview of the Texas Water Development Board. The TWDB is Texas' primary water planning and financing agency. It is responsible for collecting and disseminating water-related data, assisting with regional water supply and flood planning, and administering financial programs for water supply, wastewater treatment, flood control, and agricultural water conservation projects. Assigning the TWDB to work with other government and private entities is intended to simplify water transportation through existing and new structures. The measure also creates the Texas Water Fund Advisory Committee, which will be tasked with making recommendations to TWDB regarding the use of funds and monitoring water structure projects. Texas Policy Research, in a published overview of the measure, applauded its overall intent, but expressed concerns regarding some of its fiscal requirements, lack of oversight, and the potential infringement on private property the measure creates. While there is no actual spending being allocated for water projects in the measure, it does lay out a framework for long-term spending through the Texas Water Fund. 'We have an across the board urgency to make sure that we address the water issue, so much so that in my State of the State address, I made fixing the water problem an emergency item,' said Gov. Greg Abbott at the bill signing. 'And the good news is we had the legislature step up and get that job done with the largest water law in the history of the great state of Texas.' Abbott also used the event to promote a constitutional amendment that will be before voters in the fall. House Joint Resolution 7 amends the Texas Constitution to create steady revenue streams to the Texas Water Fund if state sales and use taxes exceed $48 billion in a year. If those taxes exceed this amount, the state comptroller will automatically transfer up to $1 billion to the Texas Water Fund every year. This provision will expire in 20 years if no further action is taken by the legislature to renew it. Overall, HJR 7 allows the state to take over management of Texas' water development and for the funds to be distributed without going through the usual allocation process. Since HJR 7 seeks to amend the Texas Constitution, taxpayers will have the opportunity to vote on the measure on November 4.
Miami Herald
19-06-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Greg Abbott Launches $20 Billion Texas Water Plan
Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed two major bills into law on June 18, launching a landmark $20 billion investment aimed at tackling Texas' growing water shortages. Final funding approval for part of the plan will require voter consent in a November statewide ballot. Newsweek contacted Abbott for comment on Thursday via email outside regular office hours. Texas faces mounting water challenges driven by rapid population growth, frequent droughts and rising demands from agriculture and industry. Leaking infrastructure and dwindling supplies threaten quality of life and economic growth. Abbott's plan aims to secure the state's water future while addressing ongoing environmental concerns. Texas suffered from severe drought in the summer of 2023, with only 11 percent of the Lone Star State drought free, according to the U.S. Drought Map, though more rainfall improved the situation in 2024. In September 2024, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said the state loses "about a farm a week" because of water shortages. Details of the Water Investment The bills signed by Abbott-Senate Bill 7 (SB 7) and House Joint Resolution 7 (HJR 7)-target repairing aging water systems and investing in new supply sources. Half of the $20 billion allocation is earmarked for infrastructure upgrades and the other half will support projects such as pipelines and desalination. Voter Approval and Immediate Funding The plan requires voter approval of HJR 7 in November to dedicate $1 billion a year from state sales tax revenue, beginning in 2027. However, the $2.5 billion allocation for the Texas Water Fund is secured regardless of the November ballot result. The Texas Water Development Board will oversee project selection and funding distribution as the state shifts to a coordinated, regional strategy for water management. Texas Water Context Water scarcity is a recurring crisis in Texas. Years of drought, persistent population increases and intensified industrial use have stretched existing systems, forcing some cities to consider restricting development. The state also faces a backlog of expensive infrastructure repairs, with Houston alone reporting a $4.93 billion need because of leaking pipes according to city officials. Texas Governor Greg Abbott: "We lose about 88 billion gallons of water a year because of broken, busted, and aged pipes." State Senator Charles Perry: The new law represents "a cultural shift from the way we do water in Texas" and moved the focus to coordinated regional strategies. Texas voters will decide on final funding through a constitutional amendment in November. If passed, the initiative will set aside $1 billion annually for water projects, beginning in 2027, with immediate funds supporting urgent infrastructure needs across the state. Related Articles Texas Defunds Border WallGreg Abbott To Sign Texas Property Tax Bill: What To KnowTexas' Largest Newspaper Trashes Greg Abbott Protest Move: 'Expect Better'Texas to Deploy Thousands of National Guard Troops for Anti-Trump Protests 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
