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SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Among the most urgent issues facing Texas is the |
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recent prolonged drought that has resulted in a diminished |
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freshwater supply and the need to find alternative water sources; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Montgomery County is one area that is facing special |
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difficulties in sustaining an adequate water supply, not only |
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because of the drought, but also because of its increasing |
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population, which grew by 9.5 percent between 2010 and 2013, and its |
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need to comply with a mandate to reduce usage of the Gulf Coast |
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Aquifer by 30 percent by the year 2016; and |
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WHEREAS, Texas is estimated to have more than 2.7 billion |
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acre-feet of brackish groundwater, a crucial option for an |
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alternative water supply, and desalination techniques can reduce |
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the saline content of those brackish supplies to meet freshwater |
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standards; and |
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WHEREAS, The City of El Paso and Fort Bliss have established a |
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successful desalination program at the Kay Bailey Hutchison |
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Desalination Plant, which can produce up to 27.5 million gallons of |
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potable water each day from brackish water; employing a similar |
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desalination method, Montgomery County could replenish and |
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maintain a sufficient water supply through its access to brackish |
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groundwater sources; and |
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WHEREAS, Treating the abundance of brackish groundwater in |
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the area to comply with freshwater regulations has the potential to |
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provide Montgomery County residents with sufficient water |
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resources while alleviating pressure on freshwater resources, and |
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this innovative process is indeed deserving of further research; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 84th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby direct the Texas Water Development Board to conduct a |
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feasibility study on the use of desalinated brackish groundwater |
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from brackish groundwater sources for water supply in Montgomery |
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County; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That this study be completed no later than January |
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1, 2018; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the board submit a full report, including its |
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findings and recommendations, to the 85th Texas Legislature, the |
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county judge of Montgomery County, and the county commissioners of |
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Montgomery County no later than June 1, 2018. |