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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