BY KATY MCAFEE
Projected water demand
study that found the LCRA will need to provide 48,000 acre-feet more of water to the region by 2030, and 64,000 more by 2080. The details The LCRA is looking to achieve its new goal by updating the Water Supply Resources Report—a long- term plan on securing water to Central Texans until 2080—to prepare for worsening drought conditions and higher demand for water as Central Texas’ population rises. The group is exploring several options to increase the region’s water supply, including groundwater wells, building new pipelines and direct potable reuse—distributing treated wastewater into potable water systems. Other options include aquifer storage and recovery, wherein excess water is stored under- ground during wet times to be used during dry times. LCRA’s updated Water Supply Resources Report is expected to be released at the end of 2024. “Many of our municipal and industrial customers contract for water they expect to need in the future, as well as what they need today,” Hofmann said. “That makes sense if you’re contracting for a growing
A September study from the LCRA found that its firm customers in the Upper Reach– the region from Central Texas down south to Wharton County–will need about 60,000 more acre-feet of water a year by 2040.
Acre-feet per year 2030 2040 2050 2060 2070 2080
Projected future firm contractual commitments in upper reach
468,000 477,000 455,000 456,000 464,000 464,000
Uncertainty cushion
30,000 30,000 50,000 50,000 50,000 50,000
Total supply needed
498,000 507,000 505,000 506,000 514,000 514,000
Historic firm yield—upper reach*
450,000 450,000 450,000 450,000 450,000 450,000
New supply needed
48,000 57,000 55,000 56,000 64,000 64,000
*HISTORIC FIRM YIELD REFERS TO THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF WATER THE LCRA CAN DELIVER DURING A DROUGHT.
SOURCE: LOWER COLORADO RIVER AUTHORITY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
population. Because of that, the amount of water customers actually use is significantly below the total amount committed for future use.” What else? The LCRA is nearing the end of building the Arbuckle Reservoir—its first major new reservoir in decades—in Wharton County outside Houston. The
reservoir can store up to 40,000 acre-feet of water at a time, which is more than Lake Austin, Lady Bird Lake and Lake Marble Falls combined, and will help reduce the amount of water released from the
Highland Lakes to downtown customers. The reservoir will come online in 2024.
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