San Marcos - Buda - Kyle Edition | December 2024

Kyle to expand water stock amid supply concerns From the cover

Current situation

Texas’ existing water supply, projected water demand, 202070

Demand

Existing supply

drought, according to previous reporting by Community Impact . BSEACD’s aquifers serve almost 100,000 people from South Austin to the southern parts of San Marcos, according to a news release. “The downgrade in drought status is a painful reminder that our aquifers haven’t had the chance to recover since drought was declared in June 2022. It may get worse before it gets better, and it’s anyone’s guess as to when that might be,” District General Manager Tim Loftus said in the news release.

In its 2022 State Water Plan, the Texas Water Development Board, or TWDB, projected that Texas’ water supply will decrease by 18% by 2070, while water demand will increase by 9%. This means one-quarter of the state’s population would face municipal water shortages without additional supplies. The decline can be attributed to the depletion of aquifers, according to the plan. In December 2023, the Barton Springs-Edwards Aquifer Conservation District, or BSEACD, declared Stage 4 Exception Drought for the rst time in the district’s 36 years due to a historic

20

18.4

17.7

19.2

18.3 18.4 18.6

16.8

15

15.5

14.7 14.2

13.9 13.8

10

32.73% difference

0

2020 2030 2040 2050 2060 2070

SOURCES: TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD, TEXAS COMPTROLLER OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTSCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Zooming in

The city’s water providers supply an average of 6.47 million gallons per day. On an average day, that supply is “more than sufficient” to meet the city’s needs, Assistant City Manager Amber Schmeits said. However, during the summer months, meet- ing demand becomes more challenging due to increased demand for outdoor irrigation amid an ongoing historical drought. Kyle resident Stephanie McDonald noted the city had not lifted water restrictions through the fall, winter and spring months. “While this crisis is ongoing, we continue to build like crazy. It’s time for a moratorium on building,” McDonald said at a May 7 City Council meeting. But Water Utilities Director Mike Murphy said Kyle is being “very meticulous” with development.

Actual and projected population

Kyle’s projected water demand in acre-feet

Projected

Actual

*ACTUAL POPULATION DATA FOR 2030 NOT AVAILABLE

80K

10K

9,118 9,108 9,104

9,133

60K

8K

7,680

40K

6K

4,898

20K

4K

0

0

2010

2020

2030*

2020 2030 2040 2050 2060 2070

SOURCES: U.S. CENSUS, KYLE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD/COMMUNITY IMPACT

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

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