| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, Texas is a diverse state with a variety of |
|
|
ecological and hydrogeological regions and a wide range of |
|
|
rainfall, surface water, and groundwater availability; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The Texas Water Development Board estimates that the |
|
|
state's population will more than double between 2000 and 2060, |
|
|
growing from about 21 million to some 46 million; the board further |
|
|
estimates that the demand for water will increase by 27 percent, |
|
|
from nearly 17 million acre-feet of water in 2000 to 21.6 million |
|
|
acre-feet in 2060, and that existing water supplies will decrease |
|
|
by about 18 percent, from approximately 17.9 million acre-feet in |
|
|
2010 to around 14.6 million acre-feet in 2060; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, One of the easiest and most cost-effective solutions |
|
|
to help the state meet water supply needs now and in the future is |
|
|
water conservation, which includes not only the reduction of |
|
|
overall demand for water but also the increase in efficiency of |
|
|
water systems; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The Water Conservation Advisory Council was created |
|
|
in 2007 to develop information on best conservation practices and |
|
|
to report biennially to the legislature on water conservation |
|
|
efforts; the 2007 State Water Plan recommends that 600,000 |
|
|
acre-feet of municipal water be conserved statewide, and many |
|
|
believe additional water conservation is achievable by a number of |
|
|
new conservation methods, including increased energy efficiency; |
|
|
and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Some regional water plans also set ambitious water |
|
|
conservation goals and must meet those goals to be able to match |
|
|
water demand with water supply; in addition, most cities are |
|
|
required by state law to develop written water conservation plans, |
|
|
and several have adopted exemplary water conservation programs; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Education about water conservation opportunities |
|
|
and practices is needed so that consumers, municipalities, and |
|
|
agricultural and industrial users consume less, waste less, and |
|
|
reuse more; taking the lead in providing such education are the |
|
|
Texas Water Development Board, the Texas Commission on |
|
|
Environmental Quality, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the |
|
|
Texas Department of Agriculture, and the Texas Water Foundation; |
|
|
moreover, groundwater conservation districts, water utilities, |
|
|
irrigation districts, river authorities, communities, businesses, |
|
|
nonprofit organizations, and individuals are also involved in this |
|
|
vital initiative; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The legislature recognizes the critical importance |
|
|
of bringing together water conservation leaders to educate Texans |
|
|
about water conservation opportunities and practices and to promote |
|
|
the need for additional conservation; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 82nd Texas Legislature |
|
|
hereby commend Texans across the state for their efforts to |
|
|
conserve water, urge them to continue to conserve even more water, |
|
|
and recognize April 27, 2011, as Texas Water Conservation Day at the |
|
|
State Capitol. |