NEWS Experts Recommend Reuse in Face of Texas’ Reliance on Surface Water The Texas Tribune published a story exploring ways in which the long-term water planning processes in Texas have failed to account for climate change and rely too heavily on new reservoirs and surface water supplies. “Dams don’t make water,” says Samuel Sandoval Solís, a professor in water resources at the University of California Davis. Sandoval Solís argues for an increased focus on water reuse and water conservation in Texas. Read more. Texas Cities in Fear of Running Out of Water, Reuse Highlighted as Solution The Hill’s Dried Up series turned its focus to Texas’s weather instability. “You saw record dry conditions week after week after week,” said climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe about the Dallas region, “and then all of a sudden, a summer’s worth of rain in a single day.” Uneven precipitation, increased evaporation, and fast population growth are requiring local water agencies in the state to get creative. The article highlights water reuse as a solution to the challenge, including Austin Water’s On-site Water Reuse Pilot Project and direct potable reuse by Colorado River Municipal Water District in West Texas. Read more. Potable Reuse in Texas Featured in CNBC Article Texas members City of Wichita Falls and El Paso Water Utilities were featured in a CNBC article that asks "What's in your drinking water? ...it might soon be recycled sewage". The title may sound concerning, but the article makes the case that DPR is a sound alternative water supply and that test runs can help with public perception. WRTX board member Christina Montoya, communications and marketing manager at El Paso, is quoted in the article as well as WateReuse executive director Pat Sinicropi. Read more. Reduce or Reuse? The Rio Grande Valley Considers Options Texas Public Radio published a story investigating whether communities like the City of Edcouch in the Rio Grande Valley region should invest in water reuse. The article weighs water reuse against other conservation and water loss prevention opportunities in the region including replacing canals with pipelines, noting that water reuse will likely be part of the long-term strategy for sustainability statewide. Read more.
EVENTS Save the Date! WateReuse Events and Deadlines to Note! March 5-8, 2023: The Annual WateReuse Symposium is the premier conference on water recycling — attracting water professionals and water reuse practitioners globally for knowledge-sharing, networking, and collaboration! The event is planned in collaboration with The Water Research Foundation and will include engaging sessions on the latest reuse-related research projects. Learn more and register. September 20-22, 2023: The 10th Annual WateReuse Texas Conference will be held in Frisco, Texas at the Hyatt Regency. Plans include a reuse-related tour, networking reception, and two days of exciting content. Sponsorship and tabling opportunities are limited, please contact Noelle George for more information.
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